Objectives
To demonstrate the response of flax to applications of varying rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) fertilizer. Implications of nitrogen, potassium and sulphur fertilizer placemen ton flax emergence and seed yield, and potential merits of split nitrogen applications were investigated.
Project Description
Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation conducted a field demonstration on behalf of SaskFlax to demonstrate the response of flax to applications of varying rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) fertilizer. Implications of nitrogen, potassium and sulphur fertilizer placement on flax emergence and seed yield, and potential merits of split nitrogen applications were also investigated.
Fourteen fertilizer treatments were arranged in a RCBD and replicated four times. All N fertilizer was side-banded urea while monoammonium phosphate was either side banded or seed-placed according to the protocol.
The project concluded that the flax is sensitive to seed-placed fertilizer but rates up to 15 kg P2O5 ha appeared to be safe. Placing 30 kg P2O5 in the seed-row resulted in significant reductions in plant populations but adversely affected yield. In addition, side-banded PKS fertilizer did not affect flax populations, regardless of the rates applied. There was a strong yield response to fertilizer with the check, yielding significantly lower than all other fertilized treatments.
