Optimization of plant nutrition for yield and quality of Fibre Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) in Himalayan tarai
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Date
2022-07
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G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
Abstract
A field study was conducted during the rabi season of 2020-21 and 2021-22 in E-5 block (Oilseed Agronomy Block) of the Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre of GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India with the objectives to assess the effect of different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on growth and development of flax, to standardize N P K levels for fibre yield and quality and to find out the economics of flax fibre production with respect to N P K applications. The experimental site was under sub humid, sub tropical climate having the sandy loam soil with near neutral pH (7.2), medium organic carbon (0.69%), low available nitrogen (195.7 kg/ha) and medium available phosphorus (19.9 kg/ha) and potassium (202.6 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with thirteen treatments viz. 60:30:30, 60:30:45, 60:45:30, 60:45:45, 90:30:30, 90:30:45, 90:45:30, 90:45:45, 120:30:30, 120:30:45, 120:45:30, 120:45:45 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O and control (no NPK application) replicated thrice. Application of 90:45:45 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O resulted in better growth of fibre flax in terms of plant height, dry matter accumulation and technical stem length which was significantly superior than other treatments except the highest nutrient level i.e. 120:45:45 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O. Higher phosphorus level recorded better root growth. Potassium played crucial role in reducing crop lodging by increasing tensile strength of stem. Increasing potassium dose by 50% over 30 kg/ha significantly reduced lodging percentage at higher nitrogen level above 60 kg/ha. Scutched fibre yield was significantly higher in 90:45:45 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O as compared to others, except 120:45:45 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O. Highest yield of heckled long fibre was also found at 90:45:45 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O with significantly better long fibre recovery (32.3%) than other treatments except the highest nutrient level. Potassium had considerable influence on improvement of fibre quality. Excess nitrogen application above 90 kg/ha was found to have deleterious effect on different fibre quality parameters specially fibre linear density and bundle tenacity. Besides higher fibre length, fibre fineness and fibre strength, cellulose content was also higher in 90:45:45 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O with lower lignin content which finally resulted in quality fibre gain in this treatment. Net return and B:C was highest in 90:45:45 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O i.e. on an average 1,37,599 Rs./ha and 2.93, respectively which was significantly better than other treatments except 120:45:45 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O. As per the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that application of 90:45:45 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O is optimum in terms of growth and yield of fibre flax. This nutrient level also provides superior quality fibre with higher profitability. Therefore, these findings can pave the way towards commercialization of flax cultivation in Subtropical regions of India.