الفهرس 
Material and methodsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Response of flax (Linam usitatissimum.L. ) to population
density and nitrogen fertilization under Middle Delta
conditions.
Two field trails were carried out at El-Gemmiza
Agricultural Research Station, Gharbia Governorate during the
two successive seasons 1998/99 and 199912000. The objectives
of this work was to study the effect of plant population densities
and nitrogen fertilizer levels on plant growth, yield components,
seed, straw and fiber yields/fad, technological characters as well
as N economic efficiency of flax Giza 7 cultivar under Middle
Delta conditions. The soil was clay loam having an alkaline
reaction and the available N was 30mglkg soil. A split-plot
design with four replications was used. The main plots were
assigned for the four seeding rates (50, 60, 70 and 80kg/fad).
These seeding rates denote the plant densities of(1323, 1587,
1852 and 2116 seeds/rrr’) and five N levels (zero, 15, 30, 45 and
60 kg N/fad) were randomly distributed among the sub-plots.
The preceding crop was maize (Zea mays L.) in both seasons.
The sub-plot area was 6m2 (11700 fad) and the sowing dates
were November 21st and 16th for the first and second seasons,
respectively.
Calcium super phosphate (16 kg P20S ) at a rate of 100
kg/fad was added during preparation the land. Nitrogen fertilizer
in the form of urea (46%N) was applied at two equal doses. One
11 half before the l” irrigation, the second half before the 2nd
irrigation. Sowing irrigation was done at the next day of sowing,
other irrigation’s were performed approximately every 25 days
intervals. Other agricultural practices were applied as in the
ordinary flax fiel . Harvesting date was 12th and 8th May in the
1st and 2nd seasons, respectively. The main findings of the
present. investigation could be summarized as follows.
1- Response of flax to plant population densities
(seeding rate).:
1 - Vegetative growth characters:
plant height (em)
Increasing seeding rate from 50 to 80 kg seeds / fad did
not exert significant effect on plant height at 90 days from
sowing in the two seasons.
Main stem diameter (mm)
Main stem diameter significantly decreased with
increasing seeding rate up to 80 kg seed / fad in both seasons.
But, the difference between 70 and 80 kg / fad was not
significant in the second season.
Fresh weight of leaves, stems and total per plant (g)
Increasing seeding rate from 50 to 80 kg seed I fad did
not exert significant effect on fresh weight of leaves and stems
per plant at this stage of growth in the two seasons. Meanwhile,
fresh weight per plant significantly decreased with increasing
seeding rate up to 80 kg seed / fad in both seasons. But, the
difference between 70 and 80 kg seeds / fad was not significant.
Dry weight of leaves, stems and total per plant (g)
Dry weight of leaves, stems and total per plant
significantly decreased with increasing seeding rates up to 80 kg
seed / fad in both seasons.
2 - Yield components
plant height (em)
Seeding rates did not effect significantly plant height at
harvest
in the two seasons.
Technical length / plant (em)
Increasing seeding rate from 50 to 80 kg seed / fad did
not exert significant effect on technical length per plant in both
seasons.
Main stem diameter (mm)
Main stem diameter significantly decreased with
increasing seeding rate up to 80 kg seed / fad in both seasons.
Number of apical branches per plant
Increasing seeding rates significantly reduced number of
apical branches per plant.
Number of capsules per plant
Increasing seed rate over 50 kg / fad led to significant
decrement
in number of capsules/plant.
Number of seeds per capsule
Number of seeds per capsule decreased slightly and
insignificantly wit increasing seed rate over 50 kg / fad in both
seasons.
Seed yield per plant (g)
Increasing seeding rate from 50 to 60 , 70 and 80 kg / fad
reduced seed yield / plant by 03.15 , 09.45 and 12.34 % in the
first season and by 31.46 , 37.64 and 37.64 % in the second
season , respectively. However, the differences among all
seeding rates were not significant in the two seasons.
Seed index (g)
Seed index significantly decreased with increasing
seeding rate up to 80 kg seed / fad. But, the difference between
70 and 80 kg / fad was not significant in both seasons.
Straw yield per plant (g)
Straw yield / plant significantly decreased with increasing
seed rate from 50 to 60 , 70 and 80 kg / fad by 04.72,15.75 and
18.11 % in the se and season, respectively. The differences in
straw yield / plant was not significant between 70 and 80 kg /
fad in the second season only. Whereas, it was not significant in
the first one.
Fiber yield per plant (g)
There was a significant decrease for fiber yield / plant
with increasing seeding rate from 50 to 60, 70 and 80 kg seed /
fad by 17.0 , 26.5 and 29.5 % in the first season and by 31.46 ,
37.64 and 37.64 % in the second season, respectively. However,
the difference between 70 and 80 kg / fad levels was
insignificant in both seasons.
3 - Seed, straw and fiber yields/fad
Seed yield per fad (kg)
A remarkable and significant increase was observed in
seed yield / fad with increasing seeding rate from 50 to 60, 70
and 80 kg / fad in both seasons. Such increased due to the same
respective treatments were 15.97, 26.88 and 30.29 % in the 1st
and 19.94, 31.57 and 32.18% in the 2nd season, respectively. In
fact there was no significant difference between 70 and 80 kg
seeds / fad in seed yield / fad in both seasons.
Straw yield per fad (ton)
Straw yield per fad significantly increased with
increasing seeding rate from 50 to 60 70 and 80 kg / fad by
7.11, 12.65 and 12.82 % in the 1st season, respectively. Whereas,
it was not significant in the second one. The difference between
70 and 80 kg seed / fad in the first season was insignificant.
Fiber yield per fad (kg)
Results showed that seeding rates significantly affected
the fiber yield/fad in the first season. While, it did not affect it in .
the second one. The difference between 70 and 80 kg seed I fad
was insignificant in the first season only. However, the
difference among seeding rates in the 2Dd season were not
significant. .
4 - Fiber quality traits
Fiber length (em)
Increasing seeding rates from 50 to 80 kg seeds I fad did
not exert significant effect on fiber length in both seasons.
Fiber fineness (N.m)
Fiber fineness of flax significantly increased with
increasing seeding rates up to 80 kg I fad. In fact there was 110
significant difference in fiber fineness between 70 and 80 kg
seeds / fad in both seasons.
Fiber percentage:
Increasing seeding rate was not affected fiber percentage
in both seasons.
5- itrogen economic efficiency
Nitrogen economic efficiency increased with the increase
in seeding rates. However, the difference among all four plant
plant height (em)
densities were insignificant. Seeding rate of 70 or 80 Kg I fad
recorded the greatest of NEE for seed, straw and fiber
production.
11- Response of flax to nitrogen fertilizer application:
1- Vegetative growth characters:
Application of nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased
plant height of flax at 90 days from sowing in the two successive
seasons. However, there was no significant difference in plant
height between 45 and 60 kg N / fad levels in both seasons.
Main stem diameter (mm)
Increasing N levels from zero up to 60 kg N / fad
increased significantly main stem diameter of this stage in both
seasons. In fact there was no significant difference in main stem
diameter between 45 and 60 kg N I fad levels in the two seasons.
Fresh weight of leaves , stems and total per plant (g)
Increasing N levels from zero up to 60 kg N / fad
increased fresh weight of leaves , stems and total per plant.
However this increase was insignificant in the first season and
was significant in the second season only.
Dry weight of leave, stems and total per plant (g)
Adding N fertilizer levels up to 60 kg N / fad
significantly increased dry weight of leaves, stems and total per
plant at 90 days from sowing in the two successive seasons.
2 - Yield components:
plant height (cm)
Increasing rate up to 60 kg N / fad significantly
increased plant height at harvest. However, there was no
significant difference in plant height between 45 and 60 kg N /
fad levels in both seasons.
Technical length per plant (cm)
Application of nitrogen levels up to 60 kg N / fad raised
technical length / plant. In fact there was no significant
difference in technical length / plant between 45 and 60 kg N /
fad levels in both seasons.
Main stem diameter (mm)
Main stem diameter of flax plant increased consistently
as nitrogen level increased in the two successive seasons.
However ,The difference between 45 and 60 kg N / fad levels
was insignificant.
Number of apical branches per plant
Adding 60 kg N / fad significantly increased number of
apical branches/plant. However, there was no significant
Seed yield per plant (g)
Application of 15,3045 and 60 kg N / fad significantly
increased seed yield / plant over the unfertilized treatment by
20.07 ,30.48, 50.93 and 62.82 % in the 1st season and by 25.97
, 43.88 , 57.31 and 69.85% in the 2nd season, respectively.
However, there was no significant difference in seed yield /
plant between 45 and 60 kg N / fad levels in the two seasons.
difference in number of apical branches/plant between 45 and 60
kg N / fad levels in both seasons.
Number of capsules per plant
Number of capsules/plant significantly increased as N
levels increased up to 60 kg N / fad . In fact there was no
significant difference in number of capsules/plant between 45
and 60 kg N / fad levels in both seasons.
Number of seeds per capsule
Nitrogen fertilizer had a significant effect on number of
seeds / capsule of flax in the two growing seasons. The
difference in number of seeds / capsule was not significant
between 45 and 60 kg N / fad levels.
Seed index (g)
Increasing N levels from zero up to 60 kg N / fad
increased seed index in the two seasons. However, the
difference among all N levels were insignificant in both seasons.
Straw yield per pia t (g)
Application of 15,30,45 and 60 kg N / fad caused a
significant increase in straw yield / plant over the unfertilized
treatment by 7.37 , 15.79. 25.26 and 30.53% in 1998/99 season
and by 11 , 16.21 and 25 % in 1999/2000 season, respectively.
In fact there was no significant difference in straw yield / plant
between 45 and 60 kg N / fad levels in both seasons.
Fiber yield per plant (g)
Fiber yield I plant increased consistently as nitrogen
levels increased in the two successive seasons. But, the
difference between 45 and 60 kg N / fad levels was insignificant
in the first season only.
3 - Seed, straw and fiber yields/fad
Seed yield per fad (kg)
Increasing N levels from zero to 15 • 30 , 45 and 60 kg N
/ fad a significant increase in seed yield/fad by 18.47 , 35.68 ,
54.53 and 59.03% in 1998/99 season and by 40.14 , 79.00
108.81 and 129.85% in 1999/2000 season, respectively
.However, the difference between 45 and 60 kg N / fad levels in
both seasons was insignificant.
Straw yield per fad (ton)
Straw yield/fad significantly increased with increasing N
levels from zero to 15 ,30 .45 and 60 kg / fad by 7.37 , 15.79
• 25.26 and 30.53 % in 1998/99 season and by 11,16.21 and 25
Fiber yield per fad (kg)
% in 1999/2000 season, respectively. However, there was no
significant difference in straw yield / fad between 45 and 60 kg
N / fad levels.
Results showed that there was a significant increase in
fiber yield/fad as N level increased in the two seasons.
Increasing N rate from zero to 15 ,30,45 and 60 kg N / fad
increased fiber yield/fad by 8.13, 16.37,25.62 and 30.74 % in
the first season and by 20.51 , 39.02 ,48.94 and 58.87 % in the
second season, respectively. In fact there was no significant
difference in fiber yield / fad between 45 and 60 kg N / fad
levels.
4- Fiber quality traits
Fiber length (em)
Fiber length of flax plant significantly increased as a
result of adding N level up to 60 kg N / fad. However, the
difference between 45 and 60 kg N / fad levels was insignificant
in both seasons.
Fiber fineness (N.m)
Fiber fineness significantly decreased with increasing N
levels up to 60 kg N / fad in the two seasons. But, there was no
significant difference in fiber fineness between 45 and 60 kg N /
fad levels.
Fiber percentage
Increasing N levels from zero up to 60 kg N / fad did not
exert significant e ect on fiber percentage in the first season. In
the 2nd season, increasing N levels up to 60 kg N / fad
significantly increased fiber percentage. However, the difference
between 45 and 60 kg N I fad levels was insignificant.
5- Nitrogen economic efficiency
The results indicates generally that NEE decrease with the
increase in N level. However, the difference among all N level
were insignificant in both seasons. Application of 45 kg N I fad
produced the highest mean values of seed, straw and fiber yields I
fad. The price of ] kg N is L.E. 1.33. Applying 45 kg N I fad
level recorded 7.82 , 14.81 and 2.82 kg seeds, straw and fiber
per one kg N applied, respectively.
111-The interaction effects
The statistical analysis revealed no significant effect of
the interaction between seeding rates and nitrogen fertilizer
levels on all characters under study during the two experimental
seasons.
According to the results of this study, seeding rates of 70
kg seeds I fad and nitrogenous fertilizer level of 45 kg N I fad
could be recommended for growing flax, Giza 7 cv. under
Middle Delta conditions.