RESPONSE OF LINSEED (LINUM-USITATISSIMUM) VARIETIES TO DIFFERENT DATES OF SOWING

An experiment was conducted under irrigated condition on an alluvial soil during the winter seasons of 1988-89 and 1989-90 to work out the optimum sowing time for linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.). Among 6 dates of sowing during October-November, sowing during 18-28 October was found optimum. Among the 3 varieties, 'Garima' outyielded 'Neelum' and 'Shubhra'. Yield attributes, viz. number of capsules/plant, seeds/capsule, seed yield/plant and 1,000-seed weight were higher in the first date of sowing. All the yield attributes except 1,000-seed weight showed the maximum expression in 'Garima' linseed. The oil content was higher at the first and second sowing dates, thereafter it declined with delay in sowing. 'Shubhra' and 'Garima' were at par having 38% oil. However, 'Neelum' gave the lowest oil content (35.7%).