The effect of increasing nitrogen dose, growth regulator and variety on seed and stalk yields, and some quality aspects of fibre flax

Authors

• Riitta Savikurki Department of Plant Production, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72712

Abstract

The effect of nitrogen, growth regulator and variety on seed and stalk yields and on the quality of fibre flax was studied at Kesälahti and at the Viikki Experimental Farm of the University of Helsinki, Finland, in 1987-89. The varieties tested were the domestic ‘Aino’ and the Dutch ‘Belinka’ and ‘Natasha’. Increasing the nitrogen supply from 6 kg/ha to 30 kg/ha inproved stalk yield significantly. The effect of the largest nitrogen dose on stalk yield was dependent on growth regulator treatment and weather conditions. Growth regulator treatment increased stalk yield when the nitrogen supply was further increased from 30 kg/ha to 60 kg/ha. On the untreated stand, the effect of nitrogen fertilization was less strong. Increasing nitrogen supply from 6 kg/ha to 60 kg/ha increased branching of the stalk, crop height, technical length and thickness of stalk, lodging, 1000 seed weight and protein content. The average stalk yield at both experimental sites was 4110 kg DM/ha. In the wet and cool growing season of 1987, growth regulator treatment significantly reduced stalk length, lodging and seed yield but increased stalk yield. In the dry growing season of 1989, growth regulator treatment increased stalk length, too. The domestic variety, ‘Aino’, was the earliest but it lodged easily. Its stalk yield was the lowest, on average 3400 kg of DM/ha. There was no difference between the Dutch varieties, ‘Belinka’ and ‘Natasha’, both of which are suitable for growing in Finland.