LINSEED

Botanical name: Linum usitatissimum Linn.

Family: Linaceae
Chromosome Numaber: 2n=30

Among the oilseed crops raised during rabi, linseed is next in importance to rapeseed-
mustard in area as well as in production. In technical oil production, it ranks first in the country.
Every part of the linseed plant is utilized commercially, either directly or after
processing. Seed contains 33 to 47% of oil. On a very small scale, the seed is directly used for
edible purposes. About 20% of the total oil produced is used at farmer’s level, and the rest 80%
oil goes to industries in various forms, such as boiled oil, borated oil, eposidized oil, aluminated
oil, urethane oil, isomerized oil etc. The oil is rich (> 66%) in linolenic acid, and is a perfect
drying oil. Hence it is utilized in the manufacture of paints, oil cloth, varnish, pad-ink, printed
ink, linoleum etc.
The oil cake is a good feed for milch cattle and poultries and hence priced 50% higher
than rapeseed-mustard cake. It is good in taste and contains 36% protein, 85% of which is
digestible. It is also used as organic manure. It contains about 5% N, 1.4% P2O5 and 1.8% K2O.
Linseed is globally cultivated for its fibres and is called flax. Fibres are used for the
manufacture of linen. The stem yields fibre of good quality having high strength and durability.
The weather resistant fibre is lustrous and blends very well with wool, silk, cotton etc. Strong
twines, canvas, suitings, shirtings and various indispensable products for defence purposes are
manufactured from it. Woody matter and short fibres may be used as raw pulp for making paper
of quality comparable with that of currency notes. The rough and strong linseed fibre can
effectively be used for low-cost roofing tiles based on convertible polymers and for fibre-
reinforced plastic (FRP).
Origin and History
The genus Linum has 20 species spread in warm temperate Europe and Asia and 50
species spread in America. Most of the investigators are of the opinion that the wild flax (Linum
angustifolium) which is a native of Mediterranean region may be the ancestor of the cultivated
species Linum usitatissimum. According to Vavilov linseed or flax had two centres of origin. The
small seeded type: These are grown mainly for oil purpose, and appear to have originated in
south-western Asia comprising, India, Afghanistan and Turkey. The bold seeded type: These are
grown for fibre purpose, and seem to have originated in the Mediterranean region including Asia
Minor, Egypt, Algeria, Spain, Italy and Greece.

Geographic Distribution
Linseed is one of the most important crops of the world cultivated in over 2.6 million ha.
The important linseed growing countries are India, Canada, China, USA and Ethiopia. India
ranks first in the world in respect of acreage accounting for 23.8% of the world total and third in
production contributing of 10.2% of the world total. Canada and China are other main linseed
producers in the world. The productivity is the highest in Romania (1751.4 kg/ha).
In India, it is cultivated on 0.53 m.ha with a production of 0.21 mtonnes. Its cultivation is
mostly confined to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Madhya
Pradesh occupies 1st position in India in respect of both area and production.
Classification
Howard and Rahman (1924) classified the Indian linseeds into three main groups based
on colour of seed as Yellow or white coloured; Fawn coloured, and Brown coloured.
The above 3 groups are again sub-divided according to the colour of corolla, mainly white, light
blue or purple.
In India, 6 species of Linum namely, L. usitatissimum, L.mysorense, L. angustifolium, L.
grandiflour, L. perenne and L. strictum. Of these 6 species, angustifolium and grandiflour have
been introduced into the country as ornamental types.
Cultivars grown for seed (oil) are usually shorter than those grown for fibre production.

Climatic requirements
Linseed is a cool season crop. The temperature during the vegetative development of the
crop should be moderate or cool. Temperature above 32 oC accompanied with drought during the
flowering stage reduces the seed yield, oil content in seed and also the quality of the oil.
Moderate temperatures (21o-26oC) are ideal. At the time of flowering, frost is very harmful to
the crop.
The crop is well suited to tracts of low rainfall and is generally raised where the average
annual rainfall ranges from 45 to 75 cm.

Soils and its preparation

Linseed can be profitably raised in places where the other crops may fail. Hence, it is
often grown on marginal and sub-marginal rainfed soils as pure crop, mixed crop, intercrop and
paira or utera crop. Linseed can be raised in almost all types of soils, where sufficient moisture
is available, but it also does better on heavier soils having greater water-retention capacity. It is
also tolerant to wide range of soil pH (5.0-7.0). However, it grows best on well drained loam to
clay loam soils rich in humus. In Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, linseed is largely raised on
black cotton soils having high clay and lime content. It is also raised on light alluvial soils of
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
Land should be ploughed 2-3 times followed by 2-3 harrowings to bring a fine tilth. To
conserve moisture, it is advisable to create soil mulch with the help of a hoe after each good
shower. Utera cropped linseed needs no land preparation, as it is broadcast in standing rice crop.

Seed and Sowing

Seed rate, seed treatment, time of sowing and spacing
Linseed is usually sown by broadcast or by drilling in rows. The seed requirement is
more in bold seeded varieties and in utera cropping system. Treat the seeds with capatan or
agrosan GN @ 2.5 g/kg seed before sowing. This ensures a good stand by protecting seedlings
against seed borne diseases. An inter-row spacing of 20-30 cm and intra-row spacing of 7-10 cm
are ideal. The time of sowing varies from early October to mid November in different states.
Rainfed crop requires early sowing. Early sowing also helps the crop to escape from powdery
mildew, rust and pod fly menaces. The row spacing, seed rate and optimum time of sowing are
given in Table
 Rainfed / Row spacing (cm) Seed rate (kg/ha) Optimum time of
Irrigated sowing

Rainfed 25 30 First to third week

Irrigated 35 20 of October
Utera Broadcast 35 First week of
October to first
week of November
Second to third
week of October

Depth of seeding
Depending upon the soil moisture, the seed should be placed 2-3 cm below the soil.
However, shallow sowing is always advantageous if there is adequate moisture in the soil.

Varieties
63 varieties including seed and double purpose (seed and fibre) have been developed for
different agro-ecological situations including varieties for utera cultivation.
Important varieties are: T.397, Jawahar 23, LCK 8528, RLC 6, LMH 62, RL 933, RL
914, Pratap Alsi 1, Pratap Alsi 2

Manures and Fertilizers

Linseed crop is generally grown without manuring. Application of 8-10 tonnes of FYM
or compost/ha at the time of final field preparation is beneficial. In vertisols of Madhya Pradesh
and alluvial soils of Bihar, best crop is raised with use of FYM and castor cake.
Improved varieties of linseed respond to fertilizers. Seed purpose crop require 60-90
(irrigated) and 40 (rainfed) kg N/ha, whereas, dual purpose crop needs still higher N dose (120
kg/ha). Similarly higher P fertilization (50 kg P 2O5/ha) of dual purpose crop is necessary in
comparison to rainfed (20 kg/ha) and irrigated (40 kg/ha) seed crop. Response to 20 kg/ha each
of S and Zn is increasingly observed in irrigated crop under intensive cropping systems. Under
irrigated conditions, half the dose of N with full amount of P, S and Zn should be applied as
basal at sowing. The remaining N is applied with the first irrigation 35 days after sowing.

Water management
Linseed is a crop of rainfed areas (> 90%). However, it responds well to irrigation.
Branching, flowering and capsule formation stages are critical for irrigation. Two irrigations are
sufficient to obtain good yields. First irrigation should be applied 30-40 days after sowing and
the second just before flowering. However, 3 irrigations (35, 55 and 75 days after sowing) have
proved very effective.
Weed control
This crop is usually dwarf statured, and therefore suffers severe competition by weeds.
Initial 3-6 weeks after sowing is critical period of crop-weed competition. The uncontrolled
weeds can reduce yields by 25-40%. The losses are more in rainfed and utera cropping systems
primarily due to competition for moisture followed by nutrients.
The important weeds of linseed include Anagallis arvensis, Vicia hirsuta, Fumaria parviflora,
Melilotus spp., Chenopodium album, Phalaris minor etc. The crop is parasitized by Cuscuta sp.
leading to heavy losses of yield. Post emergence (2-3 weeks after sowing) application or
Pronomide @ 1.5 kg/ha and crop rotation with cereals have been recommended for its effective
management. Weeds can also be controlled by 2 weedings after 3 and 6 weeks of sowing. When
crop is 8-15 cm tall or just before branching, post-emergence application of MCPB @ 0.5 kg/ha
can effectively control annual broad leaved weeds.
Cropping systems
Linseed is a component of various sequential and intercropping systems. Higher
monetary returns can be realized if linseed is grown as a pure crop instead of a mixed or
intercrop. It is usually grown in rotation with hybrid maize, sorghum, pearlmillet, soybean,
groundnut, cowpea etc. The intercropping systems suitable for different states are listed below.

Diara or utera cropping

This system has been in practice for efficient use of residual moisture in rice fields, where
tillage is a problem. About 25% of the linseed area (0.5 million ha) is under utera cropping. The
area under linseed is increasing with the decline in khesari (Lathyurus) cultivation. In this
practice, linseed is broadcast in the standing rice fields, when the rice crop is between flowering
and dough stages. Linseed is allowed to complete its life-cycle under moisture stress, with
inadequate nutrients and plant protection measures, resulting in poor yields. To raise the yield
levels, the following package of practices should be adopted.
Improved varieties should be raised for the purpose of more productivity and good
quality oil. Heavy textured soils with good water-retention capacity are ideal for this system.
Adequate FYM or green manure should be applied along with phosphate fertilizers to rice. A
dose of 20 kg N/ha should be applied 2 or 3 days before linseed is sown using a seed rate of 35-
40 kg/ha. In cuscuta infested areas cuscuta seeds should be removed from the seed lot before
sowing. Sowing linseed when rice is at the dough stage proves to be the best. Manual weeding
should be given once or twice. Crack system of sowing is a new method, which can be followed
in areas where sufficient water is available. In this method 5 cm deep cracks are allowed to
develop in the field, when the rice crop is at the boot-leaf or panicle formation stage and the field
is irrigated. After keeping the water standing for 5-7 days, the normal practice of utera is
followed. This method has been found to give 50-100% more yields and has no adverse effect on
rice yields.
Harvesting and Threshing
The crop takes about 130-150 days to mature. At maturity, the leaves become dry,
capsule turns brown and the seed becomes shiny. After harvesting, bundle the plants and leave
them on threshing floor for 4-5 days for drying. Threshing is done by beating the plant with
sticks or trampling by bullocks.
Yields
The crop yield varies from place to place depending on the climate, soil, technology and
variety. A well managed crop may yield 1.5-2.0 tonnes of seeds/ha.In linseed; oil to seeds
crushed is 33% while cake to seeds crushed is 67%.

Plant Protection
(a) Insect Pests
1. Lucerne caterpillar: This insect may cause damage by feeding on the leaves. Spray the crop
with 450 g of Sevin/Hexavin 50 WP (carbaryl) or 400 ml of Malathion 50 EC (malathion) in 80-
100 litres of water per acre.
(b) Diseases
1. Rust (Melampsora lini) : Pink fungal sori appear on the surface of leaves, stems and pods.
Grow resistant varieties. Dust the crop with sulphur @ 7 kg per acre or spray it with Indofi l Z-
78 (zineb 75%)* @ 500 g in 250 litres of water.
2. Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) : Young seedlings die when attacked. Full grown plants show
yellowing of leaves and later wilt and die. Grow tolerant varieties like LC 2023 and LC 2063.
3. Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) : A greyish white powdery growth on the
youngest growing tips is the fi rst visible symptom of this disease. In case of severe infection, the
fungus attacks branches, leaves and fl owers. It causes heavy loss owing to the defoliation of
infected plants which leads to the shrivelling of grains. Dust the crop with sulphur @ 7 kg per
acre once before flowering.