LINSEED

Linseed (Linum usitatissim um 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).

T 397: Ready to harvest in 122days. It is tolerant to wilt and rust. It can survive in drought conditions. It gives average yield of 440kg/acre.

Hira: Seeds are bold, brown color. Ready to harvest in 132days. It is resistant to wilt and rust. Gives average yield of 480kg/acre.

Mukta: Seeds are medium-bold, brown color. Ready to harvest in 127days.Gives average yield of 480kg/acre.

Neelum: Seeds are bold, brown color. Ready to harvest in 143days. It is tolerant to wilt and rust disease. Gives average yield of 600kg/acre.

Shubhra: Ready to harvest in 133days. It is suitable for UP expect Bundelkhand. Seeds are bold, brown and medium. It is resistant to powdery mildew.

Gaurav: Ready to harvest in 137days. Bold seeded variety, resistant to rust and powdery mildew.

RLC 29: Ready to harvest in 119 days. Seeds are light brown, resistant to wilt, rust disease.

Sweta: Suitable for Uttar Pradesh excluding Bundelkhand region. Ready to harvest in 133days. Seeds are light brown color. Gives average yield of 352kg/acre.

Garima: Ready to harvest in 127days. Seeds are brown, medium size. It is tolerant to powdery mildew. Gives average yield of 596kg/acre.

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

LCK 8528: Gives average yield of 800kg/acre. It is suitable for Uttar Pradesh excluding Bundelkhand.

Other States variety

Surbhi (Kl-1): It is best yielding variety which is resistant to rust, lodging as well as powdery mildew and drought. Its maturity days are 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 4-4.5 qtl of seed and 4.5qtl of fiber per acre.

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

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

Time of sowing:
For Uttar Pradesh, optimum time for linseed cultivation is in October month.

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 2 to 3 cm.

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

Seed rate:
For sowing irrigated as well as rainfed areas use seed rate of 10-12 kg for one acre.
For Bundelkhand region, under irrigated and rainfed conditions, use seed rate of 10kg/acre.

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

Utera or Paira cropping
It is popular in a region, having sufficient soil moisture in rice field. Broadcast linseed in standing field of paddy when crop is at flowering or dough stage.  

 

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 Pronomide @0.6kg/arce, two to three week after sowing. Do Post emergence application of MCPB @ 0.2kg/acre, when crop is 8-15cm tall. It controls annual broad leaved weeds.

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.