Gp. Lafond, THE EFFECTS OF NITROGEN, ROW SPACING AND SEEDING RATE ON THE YIELD OFFLAX UNDER A ZERO-TILL PRODUCTION SYSTEM, Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 73(2), 1993, pp. 375-382
The long-term sustainability of agriculture requires that soil degrada
tion be addressed and that crop production systems that incorporate th
e benefits of surface residues and standing stubble through conservati
on tillage practices be evaluated critically. The objective was to stu
dy the effects of nitrogen, row spacing and seeding rate on the yield
of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) under zero-till production practices.
Three row spacings, six seeding rates and two rates of nitrogen were
investigated. The plots were directly seeded into barley stubble under
a continuous cropping zero-till production system. When yield levels
were > 1200 kg ha-1, yields were not significantly affected by row spa
cing, but when yield levels were < 1200 kg ha-1, the 20-cm row spacing
was favored over the 10- or 30-cm spacings. Yields increased linearly
with increase in seeding rate at all row spacings. There were no inte
ractions observed between nitrogen, row spacing and seeding rate. The
results of this study have important implications in terms of equipmen
t design, cost for zero-till seeding equipment, and the opportunity to
easily modify existing equipment for zero-till seeding.