Objectives
- Compare the seed and content of fourteen fiber flax varieties and two oilseed varieties at a location near Saskatoon in the year 2001
- Compare the seed yields, bast fiber content, and fiber yielding ability of two fiber flax varieties seeded both in rows and broadcast at 40 kg, 80 kg and 120 kg per hectare.
Project Description
To generate these results, two plot experiments, each with four replicates, were set up about 20 miles from Saskatoon, near Aberdeen, in May 2001 to produce seed and fiber. The variety trial consisted of fourteen fiber varieties and two oilseed varieties planted on May 24th using a seeding rate of 40 kg/ha in plots with dimensions of 7 meters by .22 meters. The seeding rate trial used two fiber varieties planted on May 24th at seeding rates of 40 kg/ha, 80 kg/ha and 120 kg/ha in plots with dimensions of 7 meters by 1.22 meters. Plots were sprayed for weed control at the appropriate time but a lack of moisture and the shallow seeding depth in the seeding method trail led to low or non-existent plant emergence for fiber collection.
Before combining, four or two ΒΌ m2 areas of plants were pulled out of the ground, wrapped, labeled and stored. Sub-samples of each of the stems of these pulled plants were prepared and retted by staff of Biolin. A reciprocating blade-type breaker/decorticator was used to roughly separate clean bast fibers from the retted dry straw and final cleaning of the bast fibers was done by hand to calculate fiber yields per hectare.
In September 2001, a plot harvester was used to cut the ripened seed bolls off the stems. The resultant seed was cleaned by ICMS and used to calculate the seed yield of each plot. It is now being stored at Biolin Research Inc. for use in further agronomic trials.
There are large differences in the bast fiber and seed yielding ability of different fiber flax varieties that can be grown in Saskatchewan. Seeding rates and methods also appear to have significant impacts on such yields. Unfortunately, in this trial the drought impacted very negatively on being able to clearly separate out the expected differences. Resources were not available to determine how quality traits (e.g. fiber fineness) are affected by choice of variety and agronomic practice. More trials over more years and at more locations are needed to increase our knowledge base of what responses can be expected when we choose certain fiber flax varieties and agronomic practices.
