Evaluation of fibre flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) performance under minimal and zero tillage in Eastern Canada

The feasibility of producing fibre flax in minimum tillage or zero tillage (ZT) systems was investigated. The results were variable between the sites, which differed in soil type and previous cropping history. Tillage regime had no impact on fibre flax phenological development including number of days to emergence, days to flowering and days to harvest at either site. However, tillage regime had a significant effect on mean stem diameter, dry matter content and plant height at all three sampling dates at the sandy loam site, and a significant effect on mid-season plant height at the clay site. At the sandy loam site, ZT plots had the highest populations of plants with the finest stem diameters, the lowest branching ratios, but the shortest plants by the end of the season. Overall, plant densities were greater, stem diameters thinner, and biomass production higher in the heavier soil of the clay site. These results indicate that under the growing conditions present in 1998, fibre flax can successfully be grown in minimum or ZT systems on different soil types in Eastern Canada. Moreover, the growth of fibre flax in these systems does not compromise the proportion of tall plants having thin stems and minimal branching, a critical quality parameter for fibre flax production.