LINSEED

Linseed(Linum usitatissimum L.). 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, oil cloth, 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 linseed is cultivated for fiber purpose. Its fiber is used in manufacturing of linen.

In India, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, 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. pH of soil (5.0-7.0).

K 2: It gives an average yield of 4qtl/acre. It has brown color big sized seeds, resistant to rust and tolerant to powdery mildew. The variety matures in 170-175 days. The seeds contain 46% oil content.

LC 54: It gives an average yield of 5.5qtl/acre. It has medium sized brown color seeds. The variety is tolerant to powdery mildew and rust. The variety matures in 160 days.

T 397: It gives an average yield of 4.5qtl/acre. It has small brown color seeds, spreading plant, rust and drought tolerant. The variety matures in 120-125 days. The seeds contain 44% oil content.

Neelam: It gives an average yield of 6qtl/acre. It has big sized seeds and has medium length. The variety is resistant to wilt, rust and drought. The plant matures in 120-125 days. The seed contains 44% oil content.

Heera: It gives an average yield of 5qtl/acre. It has brown big sized seeds, spreading plant. The variety is tolerant to rust, wilt and drought. The variety matures in 130-135 days and the seeds contain 43% oil content.

Jawahar 1: It gives an average yield of 3qtl/acre. It has medium sized brown color seeds which are moderately tolerant to rust, powdery mildew and wilt. The variety matures in 115-120 days and the seed contains 44% oil content.

Jawahar 17: In irrigated areas, it gives an average yield of 5qtl/acre and in rainfed areas, it gives an average yield of 3qtl/acre. It has medium sized brown color seeds which are moderately tolerant to rust, powdery mildew and wilt. The variety matures in 115-120 days and the seed contains 43% oil content.

Jawahar 23: It gives an average yield of 4qtl/acre. It has medium sized brown color seeds which are moderately tolerant to rust, powdery mildew and wilt. The variety matures in 120 days and the seed contains 43% oil content.

C 429: It gives an average yield of 4qtl/acre. It is moderately tolerant to powdery mildew and more tolerant to rust and wilt. The variety matures in 120 days and the seed contains 43% oil content.

Pusa 2: In irrigated areas, it gives an average yield of 5qtl/acre and in rainfed areas, it gives an average yield of 3qtl/acre. It has medium sized brown color seeds which are tolerant to drought and rust. The variety matures in 121-155 days and the seed contains 43% oil content.

Pusa 3: It gives an average yield of 5.5qtl/acre. It has medium sized brown color seeds. The variety matures in 150 days and the seed contains 42% oil content.

Garima: It gives an average yield of 6qtl/acre. It has medium sized brown color seeds. The variety is tolerant to rust, powdery mildew, alternaria and blight.  The variety matures in 125-130 days and the seed contains 42% oil content.

Laxmi 27: It gives an average yield of 5qtl/acre. It has big sized brown color seeds. The variety is tolerant to powdery mildew. The variety matures in 110-125days and the seed contains 45% oil content.

Meera: It gives an average yield of 6qtl/acre. It bears purple-blue color flowers, brown seeds. The variety is tolerant to rust, wilt, powdery fungus, blight, and the seeds contain 42% oil content.

Parvati: It gives an average yield of 6.6qtl/acre. It bears purple-blue color flowers, light medium seeds. The variety is moderately resistant to blight, powdery fungus, wilt, and black pest. The seeds contain 42% oil content.

Ploughed land for two to three times. After then, take two to three harrowing to get an excellent tilth.
 

Time of sowing:
The optimum time for sowing is start-October and mid-November.

Spacing:
For irrigated as well as rainfed areas, use row to row spacing of 25 cm and plant to plant spacing of 7-10cm.
For Bundelkhand region, for rainfed and irrigated areas, use row to row spacing of 25-30 cm.

Sowing depth:
Sow seed at depth of 3-4 cm.

Method of sowing:
Linseed is usually sown by broadcasting method or seed drill method.
 

Seed rate:
For sowing, use seed rate of 10-12kg/acre.

Seed treatment:
Before sowing, treat seed with captan or thiram @3 grams per kg of seed.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply fertilizer on basis of soil test.

In general, overall linseed under rainfed areas required Nitrogen@16kg/acre, Phosphorus@8kg/acre. Apply in form of Urea@35kg, SSP@50kg/acre.

Under irrigated conditions, apply Nitrogen@36kg in form of Urea@80 kg and Phosphorus@12 kg in form of SSP@75 kg/acre. Apply basal dose of half of N with full amount of P should be applied as basal dose at time of sowing. The remaining dose of Nitrogen is applied 35 days after sowing at time of first irrigation.
 

Weed is controlled by herbicides. The important weed of linseed include Anagallis arvensis, Vicia hirsuta, Fumaria parviflora, Melilotus spp., Chenopodium album, Phalaris minor etc.

Take weeding, on third and six week after sowing. To control weed chemically, take spray of Isoproturon@500gm/arce before first irrigation. Do Post emergence application of stomp@800ml/acre.
 

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

• Pest 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.

• Disease 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.

Crops get mature near about in 130-150days. Right time of harvesting is when the leaves shades and capsule turn completely brown.

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.