Influence of sowing time on performance of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) varieties under mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh

INFLUENCE OF SOWING TIME ON LINSEED UNDER MID HILL CONDITIONS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of different linseed varieties (Binwa, Himani, Baner and Nagarkot) during different time of sowing (last week of October, first week of November and last week of November). Among different times of sowing, the crop sown during first week of November and last week of October being at par with each other had recorded significantly higher plant stand, more plant height and higher number ofsecondary branches/plant and capsules/plant, which have contributed in getting significantly higher seed yield and economic return over November last week sown crop. The increase of 37.6 and 35.0 per cent in seed yield and ` 5110 and 4281/ha in net returns were obtained when sowing was done during first week of November and last week of October, respectively over crop sown on last week of November. Among varieties, Nagarkot has recorded significantly highest plant population/ha, which was followed by Himani and Baner varieties. Nagarkot was found to significantly superior for recording higher number of primary and secondary branches and Himani for number of capsules/plant, which have resulted higher seed yield of 1062 and 1012 kg/ha and economic parameters (B:C ratio of 1.62 and 1.50) with Himani and Nagarkot varieties, respectively.