, vol. 1, issue 2, pp. 28-39, 2013.
Cultivar selection, time of planting and seeding rate is important factors that
influence flax growth and yield variables. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects
of planting date, seeding rate and their interactions on yield and yield components of two flax
cultivars. Cultivars, planting date and seeding rate had significant effects on flax yield and yield
components. In general, the interaction between planting date and seeding rate and between
planting date and cultivar was non significant. Results indicated that, no interaction occurred
between cultivar and each of planting date and seeding rate suggesting that planting date and
seeding rate affected the cultivars similarly. The two tested cultivars exhibited significant
differences for almost traits. The early planting on November 15 was superior to the other two
dates on November 30 and December 15 for seed yield and yield components and straw, fiber
yield and related traits. Maximum seed, oil, straw and fiber yields ha-1 was produced when
seeding rate was applied at the rate of 180 kg ha-1. Therefore, early planting time November 15
with seeding rate 180 kg ha-1 is recommended to obtain higher yield of flax cultivars Sakha 1 and
Sakha 2. Significant linear relationship between planting dates and each of seed and oil yield
provides the clue that these traits are dependent upon planting dates. Linear regression for
planting date suggested that increase in one unit (15 days delaying) of planting date lead to
decreased seed and oil yield by 162.7 kg ha-1 and 63.66 kg ha-1, respectively. Regression
analysis indicated that seed and fiber yields was positively correlated with seeding rates (r = 0.99
and r= 0.99) and increased linearly when the seeding rates increased from 140 to 180 kg ha-1.
Finally coefficients of regression results suggest that an increase by one unit (20 kg ha-1) of
seeding rate lead to increase seed and fiber yields by 62.55 kg ha-1 and 249.5 kg ha-1,
respectively.
Key words: Flax, cultivar, planting date, seeding rate, regression analysis, yield, quality traits.
INTRODUCTION
Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is ranked second plant after cotton as a fiber crop regarding the cultivated
area or its importance in industry. Flax is one of the ancient important crop grown for fiber and oil locally used in
textile industry. Linseed oil is one of the oldest commercial oils used in food painting and varnish industry. Flax
is considered one of the most important dual purpose crops for oil and fiber production in Egypt and the world,
flax is rich in oil (41%), protein (20%), and dietary fiber (28%), Bakry et al. (2012).
In Egypt, it is one of the oldest crops cultivated for its seeds and fibers as double purpose crop since
pharaoh age.