Influence of Seeding Rates on Seed yield, Oil Content, Oil Yield and other Yield Attributes of four Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L), Varieties in Horo Guduru District, Western Ethiopia

Seed rate is one of the agronomic factors that decreases seed yield by subjecting plants to lodging and competition. The field experiment was conducted in 2019/20, and 2020/2GC main cropping seasons on Harato and Gitilo sites to determine the effect of seeding rates on seed yield and oil percentages and to evaluate the interaction effect of varieties and seed rates on seed yields, oil percentages, and yield attributes. The experiment consisted of four linseed varieties (Belay, Berene, Kuma, and local) and five seed rates (20, 25, 30, 20 35, and 40 kg ha(-1)). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The results revealed that seed yield, oil percentage, oil yield, capsules per plant, thousand seed weight, dry biomass, and straw yield of linseed were significantly (p < 0.01) influenced by the main effect of seed rates and varieties. While seed yield, oil percentage, and oil yield had significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the interaction of varieties by seed rate. Maximum seed yield was obtained from improved varieties of Kuma (1819 kg ha(-1)) at 35 kg ha(- 1), but the lowest seed yield recorded from improved varieties and local cultivar at 20 kg ha(-1). The highest oil percentage (41.38%) was recorded on Kuma variety at the seed rate of 20 kg ha(-1), but the lowest oil percentage (35.15% and 35.96%) had obtained from local cultivar at 35 and 40 kg ha(-1). Therefore, the findings suggested that Kuma variety of linseed was the highest yielder at 35 kg ha-! seed rates, while the oil percentage of the varieties decline as seed rate increased. Thus sowing Kuma variety at 35 kg ha_! seed rates can be recommended at the study area and similar agro ecology.