Optimum sowing density arrangement to maximize linseed agronomic performance

Abstract

The objective of this work was to verify if it is possible to identify the optimum sowing density arrangement to maximize the productive performance of linseed. The experiment took place in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 in the municipality of Augusto Pestana. The experimental design used was randomized blocks organized in a three-factor scheme, with six sowing densities (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 seeds per linear meter), two spacing between rows (Arrangement I: 0.18 m and Arrangement II: 0.54 m) and three seasons (2020, 2021 and 2022), with treatments arranged in four replications. The following variables were measured: plant height (PH, cm), height of insertion of the first capsule (HIFC, cm), stem diameter (SD, mm) and thousand grain weight (TGW, g). Grain yield (GY, kg ha-1) was evaluated by harvesting the four central rows of each experimental unit. Then, analysis of variance was performed at 5% significance by the F test. Tukey's test was applied to compare the means of qualitative treatments, at 5% probability. To verify the effects of sowing density, regressions were used. The spacing of 18 cm between rows promoted the highest yield performance of the row, regardless of the seed density used. The diameter of the stem responded positively to the sowing density up to the limit of 90 seeds per linear meter.