Influence of Planting Density on Yield and Yield Components of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Abstract

Seeds of Linum usitatissimum L. variety Lirina were drill-sown with row spacing of 30 cm in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Thinning after emergence to about 1, 2, and 4 cm spacing within a row resulted in planting densities of 250～330 m^–2 (H), 150 ～160 m^–2 (M), 75～85 m^–2 (L), respectively. Planting density had no effect on the number of capsules per unit area (m^–2), although the number was smaller in L than in H in 2016. Three yield components which contributed to determining the number of capsules per unit area, namely, the number of stems (=main stem and basal branches) per plant, the number of inflorescence branches per stem, and the number of capsules per inflorescence branch, increased as plant density decreased. On the other hand, the number of seeds per capsule, single seed weight, and yield were not affected by planting density. These results indicate that the linseed plant maintains the number of capsules per unit area and yield through three compensatory growth processes, that is the development of basal branches, inflorescence branches, and flowers.