This paper reports on field agronomy studies into flax (Linum usitatissimum
L.) conducted in Tasmania, Australia from 1994 to 1997. These studies inve
stigated the performance of selected cultivars, and responses to sowing dat
e, plant density and irrigation. The work formed part of a feasibility stud
y assessing the potential of fibre hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and flax as so
urces of fibre for the Australian newsprint industry.
Two cultivar evaluation trials were conducted at the University of Tasmania
Farm, Cambridge, in Tasmania's south-east. One of these included 7 Europea
n and Australian flax cultivars, and the other, 4 mucilage linseed cultivar
s. The European flax cultivars yielded significantly more stem and bark fib
re than the Australian flax cultivars. Of the former group, Ariane (841 g/m
(2)) and Marina (883 g/m(2)) performed the best in terms of stem yield prod
uction, while Viking had comparable bark yields to these 2 cultivars. With
the exception of cv. Kreola (543 g/m(2)), which produced comparable stem yi
elds to the Australian flax cultivars, the linseed cultivars were short and
produced relatively low stem yields. Interestingly, seed yields (149-194 g
/m(2)) were not superior to those for the flax cultivars (156-218 g/m(2)).
While offering little dual-purpose seed/fibre potential, they may supply a
future niche market for seed production.
Three other trials were conducted to investigate the response of flax to se
eding rate and sowing date, and the interactions between seeding rate, sowi
ng date and irrigation availability. Autumn sowings of flax gave higher yie
lds of both stem and seed compared with winter and spring sowings. Reasonab
le stem and seed yields were achieved from dryland cropping of flax. Howeve
r, good results from such rainfed crops in Tasmania will depend on autumn s
owing and good rainfall during winter and spring seasons. There were clear
yield benefits from irrigation between early November and January, when the
amount and distribution of rainfall was poor. The selection of an optimum
seeding rate will depend on the sowing date and involve a compromise betwee
n maximising yield and minimising potential losses from lodging. The decrea
sed occurrence of lodging with winter and spring sowings in this study, sug
gests that later sowings can accommodate higher seeding rates.