Response of some flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes to different soil application levels of humic acid

Two field trials were established during 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons at the Experimental Farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Egypt, to evaluate the response of some flax genotypes (Strain 651, Sakha 3, Sakha 5 and Giza 12) to different fertilization levels of humic acid (HA) (0, 1000, 1500 and 2000 g/fed[1]) as a soil application. Split-plot design was used for the experiment with four replicates. The main-plots were assigned to the four fertilization levels of HA and the sub-plots were allocated to the four flax genotypes. The results pointed out that using 2000 g/fed of HA treatment significantly attained the highest values of all studied characters followed by 1500, 1000 and 0 g/fed during both seasons. The results also, referred that S.651 was significantly superior to the rest of the other genotypes in technical length, fiber length, fiber percentage and fiber yield/fed within both seasons. Giza 12 recorded significantly the most beneficial results for stem diameter, straw yield/plant, straw yield/fed, fruiting zone length, seed index and seed yield/plant in both seasons. Also, Sakha 5 significantly surpassed the other genotypes in number of capsules /plant, seed yield/fed, oil percentage and oil yield/fed in the 1st and 2nd seasons. Thus, this research recommended the use of 2000 g/fed of HA with the promising strain (S.651) to obtain the highest fiber yield/fed, or with Sakha 5 to gain the highest seed and oil yield/fed in Northern Delta region of Egypt. Keywords: Flax genotypes, humic acid, straw yield, seed yield, oil yield, fiber yield [1]  fed = feddan = 4200 m

Impact of sulphur fertilization on yield and its components of three flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes

The objective of this experiment was to investigate yield, yield components and quality of three flax genotypes (Sakha 3, Sakha 5 and Giza 11) under different sulphur fertilization levels (0, 25.0, 37.5, 50.0 and 62.5 kg/ha). Split-plot design was used for the experiment with four replicates. The main-plots were assigned to the five fertilization levels of sulphur and the sub-plots were allocated to the three flax genotypes. Application of 50.0 kg sulphur/ha significantly increased most of the studied characters i.e. technical length, straw yield/plant, straw yield/ha, fruiting zone length, number of capsules/plant, seed yield/ha, fiber length and fiber yield/ha in both seasons. Results also showed that Giza11 significantly surpassed other genotypes in technical length, stem diameter, straw yield/plant and per hectare, seed index and fiber length, whilst Sakha 3 was superior in fiber percentage and fiber yield/ha in the first and second seasons, respectively. Sakha 5 genotype recorded the best results for fruiting zone length, number of capsules/plant and seed yield/ha in both seasons. Therefore, this study recommends using fertilization level of 50.0 kg sulphur/ha with Giza11 for the best straw yield/ha, Sakha 3 for the best fiber yield/ha and Sakha 5 for the best seed yield/ha. Keywords: Flax genotypes, sulphur fertilization, straw yield, seed yield, fiber yiel

Impact of plant density of pea intercropped with flax under different nitrogen fertilizer levels on crop productivity

A field experiment was established to analyze the effect of different plant densities of pea (12.5, 25.0, 37.5 and 50.0% of the recommended plant density "RPD") intercropped with 100% flax under nitrogen fertilization levels (60, 85 and 110 kg N/ha) on yield of both crops, their competitive relationships and economic evaluation. A Split-plot design with three replications was used, where the main-plots were assigned to nitrogen fertilization levels and the sub-plots for intercropping patterns. Application of 85 kg N/ha significantly increased all studied characters of both crops. Sowing flax with pea with 12.5%  from the RPD resulted in highest values of flax stem diameter, straw yield/ha, number of capsules/plant, seeds/plant, seed index and seed yield/ha. For pea higher values were also observed for number of leaves, branches and pods/plants, pod length and diameter, green pod weight and number of seeds/pod. The highest values of total green pods yield/ha of pea was produced when flax is sown with the RPD and pea with 37.5% RPD. It can be concluded that the maximum LER, RCC, total income and economic return were obtained from sowing flax with the RPD and pea with 37.5% RPD and fertilizing with 85 kg N/ha. Keywords: Flax, pea, intercropping system, plant densities, nitrogen fertilizer levels, competitive relationship