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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. |