2016 Volume 85 Issue 4 Pages 421-426
Growing linseed in winter is an alternative strategy that allows increased diversification of cropping systems in temperate regions. A field experiment was conducted in Kyoto, Japan, during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons to study the growth and yield potential of linseed variety Lirina sown in autumn (mid-October, late-October, and early-November) as well as in spring (mid-March and late-March). Autumn-sown linseed plants came into flowering in April and into ripening in the middle of June. Although the seed yield, 310–420 g m–2 in the 2013/2014 season and 270–350 g m–2 in the 2014/2015 season, did not vary with sowing date, late sowing resulted in a decreased number of capsules per inflorescence branch and increased one seed weight. Seed yield of autumn-sown linseed was the same as or slightly higher than that of spring-sown linseed. Autumn-sown linseed had a larger aboveground biomass and, consequently, lower harvest index (24–32%) than spring-sown linseed (31–40%). Autumn-sown linseed plants had more basal branches and produced larger seeds (5.9–6.5 mg per seed) than spring-sown plants (5.3–6.0 mg per seed). Linseed is considered to be a promising autumn-sown crop to diversify cropping systems in warm regions in Japan.
