English

Abstract

laxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) oil is an important crop in China, which is rich in saturated fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid, and other essential nutrients for the human body. Here, we investigated the effects of different irrigation and fertilization conditions on flax yield and quality in semi-arid regions in northern China. Using non-weighing lysimeter fertilization versus non-fertilization, the effects of four irrigation treatments (1 500, 1 800, 2 100, and 2 400 m3 ha-1) on flax yield and quality were assessed for the flax cultivar ‘Yajin7.’ As the irrigation quota increased, both the aboveground fresh weight and flaxseed biomass initially increased and subsequently decreased. The flax fresh weight and seed weight increased by 74.52 and 80.70%, at irrigation quotas of 2 100 and 1 500 m3 ha-1, respectively; however, irrigation quota had no significant effect on flax quality. Fertilizer application significantly improved flax and flaxseed yields by 127 and 77%, respectively, increased mean flax protein content from 20.05 to 24.63%, and decreased the mean lipid content from 46.52 to 43.67%. However, fertilization had no effect on the content of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. Overall, our results highlight that water related benefits to flax crops decrease in response to increasing the irrigation quota and appropriate fertilizer application can significantly improve flax yield and quality. Therefore, this study provides a theoretical basis for irrigation and fertilization related to flax cultivation in northern China