The effect of time of planting on yield attributes of sub-tropical linseed varieties

Abstract

The effect of time of planting on varieties of linseed, grown under irrigation in the dry season, was tested at Kimberley Research Station in 1961. The varieties were RR45, RR204 and RR236, of Indian origin Six plantings were made at fortnightly intervals between April 28 and July 7. There was a slight interaction in seed and oil yield between variety and time of planting, but for all varieties seed and oil yields were significantly and progressively reduced in plantings made after early June. The variety RR204 gave higher seed and oil yields than RR45 and RR236 (mean of planting dates). Two major factors appeared to contribute to the decline in seed and oil yield of crops planted after early June : a reduction in vegetative growth and a shortening of the flowering and seed maturation phases. These changes were associated with sharply rising temperatures and increasing day length in late dry season.