Influence of Three Cropping Sequences and Mineral Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates on Flax Productivity and Profitability Under Different Planting Dates in Sandy Soil

Abstract

The development of modern ecologically and profitable management for flax has a significant importance. A two-year study was carried out at Ismailia Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, ARC, Ismailia governorate, Egypt during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons to decrease mineral nitrogen (N) inputs of flax with increasing profitability for Egyptian farmer under different cropping sequences and planting dates in sandy soil. This experiment included 27 treatments which were the combinations of three cropping sequences (peanut / flax, peanut /fahl berseem/ flax and peanut / fodder maize / flax), three flax planting dates (5th November, 15th November and 25th November) and three mineral N fertilizer rates (107.1, 142.8 and 178.5 kg N/ha). A split split plot distribution in randomized complete block design was used. The results indicated growing fahl berseem in the transition period between peanut and flax increased plant height, technical length of the main stem, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, 1000 – seed weight, seed yields per plant and per ha and oil, straw and fiber yields per ha in comparison with those grown after peanut or fodder maize. On the other hand, growing flax after peanut or fodder maize increased flax seed oil content. Seed, oil, straw and fiber yields per ha were decreased with delaying planting date of flax. The highest mineral N fertilizer rate had the highest values of plant height, technical length of the main stem, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, 1000 – seed weight, seed yields per plant and per ha and oil, straw and fiber yields per ha. Conversely, flax seed oil content was decreased by increasing mineral N fertilizer rates. With regard to all the interactions of this study, all the studied traits of flax were affected significantly by all the interactions. Growing flax plants in the early date (5th November) after cutting fahl berseem gave the highest seed, oil, straw and fiber yields per ha with decreasing mineral N fertilizer rate per ha by twenty five percent under sandy soil conditions.