Objectives
- To develop an agronomic system for intercropping chickpea with flax in Saskatchewan.
- To determine if the area of adaptation for chickpeas can be expanded by utilizing an intercrop with flax.
- To determine if intercropping can be used to reduce disease pressure in chickpeas.
- To increase the production of flax in western Canada
- To improve the agronomic performance of flax.
Project Description:
Research information on the agronomics of intercropping chickpea and flax is required to assist producers in the successful adoption of this intercrop. To provide this information, an experiment examining the effects of crop placement, nitrogen fertilizer and flax seeding rate was initiated. In addition, two monocrop flax treatments were added for a total of 22 treatments. The experiment was seeded at five locations: Redvers, Indian Head, Melfort, Saskatoon and Swift Current in 2019, 2021 and 2022. In general, the moisture conditions during the study ranged from dry to normal with only one or two wet site-years. Results indicate that flax seeding rate is the factor with the largest impact on grain yield and economic returns when intercropping chickpea and flax. The impact of crop placement and nitrogen fertilizer varied among the site years. There was a major reduction in percent green seed in the harvested chickpea when the chickpea is grown in an intercrop with flax compared to a monocrop. This intercrop only faltered when dry conditions that hastened flax maturity were followed by wet conditions that encourage renewed vegetative growth in the chickpeas. In conclusion, intercropping chickpea and flax increases the stability of grain yield and economic returns to producers when growing chickpea and/or flax.
Grower Benefits:
Results indicate that flax seeding rate is the factor with the largest impact on grain yield and economic returns when intercropping chickpea and flax. The impact of crop placement and nitrogen fertilizer varied among the site years. There was a major reduction in percent green seed in the harvested chickpea when the chickpea is grown in an intercrop with flax compared to a monocrop. This intercrop only faltered when dry conditions that hastened flax maturity were followed by wet conditions that encourage renewed vegetative growth in the chickpeas. In conclusion, intercropping chickpea and flax increases the stability of grain yield and economic returns to producers when growing chickpea and/or flax.
Tips for intercropping flax and chickpeas:
- Use full chickpea seeding rate
- Flax seeding rate should start at 20 lbs/acre
- Place seed at 1 inch or a little deeper if dry (favour chickpeas)
- You can lower seeding rate if needed as you gain experience
- Be aware of late rains after dry conditions- flax may mature, while chickpeas start to regrow
