Growth and photosynthetic pigment content in Salvia hispanica L. with macronutrient omission in nutrient solution

Abstract

Due to the importance of the chia crop, standing out among Lamiaceae for its medicinal use, there are few studies that report the nutritional disorders therein. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of macronutrient omission on the growth and photosynthetic pigment content of chia grown in nutrient solution. The study was carried out in a greenhouse at the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia-UFRB, in the municipality of Cruz das Almas, state of Bahia. The design was completely randomized, with five replicates and seven treatments: complete nutrient solution and macronutrient omissions. The nutrient solution used was that of Hogland & Arnon (1950) modified. After 45 days of cultivation, the evaluations were performed. For the variables plant height, num­ber of leaves, stem diameter, leaf mass ratio, and dry mass yield, treatment with N omission provided the lowest values compared to other treatments. With P omission, the leaf area presented lower value in relation to the others. For chlorophylls, Ca omission was responsible for providing the lowest values. Macronutrient omission affects the growth of chia plants in the decreasing order of N>P>K>Ca>S>Mg, and the photosynthetic pigment content in the decreasing order of N>Ca>K>Mg>S>P.