LINSEED

Linseed (Linumusitatissimum L.) also called as Alasi. It is important oilseed crop after rapeseed and mustard. The oil percentage of the seed differs from 33-47%. Linseed contains linoleic acid which is having superb drying property. That’s why it is used in processing of paints as well as varnishes, oilcloth, water-resistant fabric. Linseed-cake is certainly a fine manure as well as livestock feed. Linseed can be used for making papers and plastics. Also linseeds are cultivated for fiber purpose. Its fiber is used in manufacturing of linen.

In India, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are major linseed growing states.

It does best on deep clayey black soils, clay loams. It grows well in areas where there is high rainfall. Soil pH (5.0-7.0).

Pusa 2: Ready to harvest in 121-155days. Gives average yield of 295kg/acre.

NL 97: Ready to harvest in 115-120days. Oil percentage is 44%.Gives average yield of 240-480kg/acre. 

NL 142: Ready to harvest in 118-125days. Oil percentage is 45%.Gives average yield of 604kg/acre. 

NL 165: Ready to harvest in 115-120days. Oil percentage is 42%.Gives average yield of 650kg/acre. 

PKNL 260: Ready to harvest in 110-115days. Oil percentage is 43%.Gives average yield of 720kg/acre. 

Other States variety

Surbhi (Kl-1): It is best yielding variety whichis resistant to rust, lodging as well as powdery mildew and drought. Its maturity daysare 165-170 and contain 44% oil. Its average yield is 3-6qtl/acre.

Jeevan (DPL-21): It is a dual purpose variety. It is tall with average height of 90 and 75cm. The seed is brown colored, medium in size and flowers are blue colored. It matures in 175-181 days. It is resistant to wilt, rust and powdery mildew and yields 6qtl of seed and 3qtl of fiber per acre

Pusa-3, LC-185, LC-54, Sheela (LCK- 9211), K2

Garima: Ready to harvest in 127days. Seeds are brown, medium size. Tolerant to powdery mildew. Gives average yield of 560kg/acre.

 Ploughed land for two to three times. After then, take two to three harrowing to get an excellent tilth. Also destroyed weed and make land weed free.

Time of sowing:

Optimum time for seed sowing is first fortnight of October month. 

Spacing:

For sowing, use line spacing of 20 X 30cm and plant spacing of 7-10cm.

Sowing depth:

Sow seeds at depth of 2 to 3cm.

Method of sowing:

Linseed is usually sown by broadcastingmethod or seed drill method. 

Seed rate:

For sowing once acre land, used seed rate of 4-4.8kg/acre.

Seed treatment:

Before sowing, treat seeds with Captan@2.5gm per kg of seeds. 

 Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply fertilizer on basis of soil test. 

Linseed under rainfed areas, required Nitrogen@10kg/acre and Phosphorus@20kg in the form of Urea@25kg, SSP@125kg/acre. Apply full dose of Nitrogen and Phosphorus at time of seed sowing.

Under irrigated conditions, apply Nitrogen@24kg in form of Urea@55kg, Phosphorus@12kg in form of SSP@75kg/acre.

For irrigated areas, apply basal dose of half of N with full amount of P and K at time of sowing. The remaining dose of Nitrogen is applied 35 days after sowing i.e. at the time of first irrigation.

Irrigation is necessary after seed sowing as well as when flowers are turning into seeds. The frequency of irrigation depends on climatic condition and type of soil.

To keep check on weeds, take weeding operations, 20 to 25days and second on 40-45days after sowing.

To control weed chemically, take spray of Pendamethalin@0.4kg/acre in 200-240Ltr of water, two – three days after sowing. 

• Pests and their control:

Lucerne caterpillar: It causes damage to leave as well as to pods.

Control: Spray 600-800 gm of sevin/Hexavin 50 WP (carbaryl) or 400 ml of malathion 50 EC in 80-100 Ltr of water/acre.

• Diseases and their control:

Rust: It is like pink spot on leave surface, pods and stems.

Control: spray with sulphur @7 kg/acre or Indofil Z-78 @500 gm in 150 ltr of water.

Wilt: Young crops are more prone to this disease. Crops firstly turn yellow and then die.

Control: Cultivate the varieties which can tolerate this disease.

Crop is ready for harvesting when the bolls turn completely brown. They are harvested in April.

After harvesting, place harvested bundles on threshing area for 4-5 days. After proper drying, threshing is conducted by beating the crop with sticks or even trampling by bullocks.