Research conducted to evaluate regional adaptions and planting date.
Questions considered:

• Are current flax varieties agronomically adapted to Iowa and Minnesota?
• Does planting date affect flax oil quality, quantity, grain and straw yield, and underseeding and weed biomass?
• Do planting date effects differ by cultivar and by location?

RCBD, Factorial: Three planting dates x five cultivars x four replications

Planting dates (similar to those for small grains):
1. Early
2. Early + 10 days
3. Early +20 days

Cultivar (seeded at 50 lb/A) trials with medium red clover underseeding (seeded at 14 lb/A)
1. Norlin
2. Hanley
3. Carter (golden)
4. Bethune
5. York

Observations During Growing Season

• Emergence date for flax (50% emergence)
• Flowering date of first flowering, 10% flower and 90% flowering
• Maturity at 75% and 95% tan to brown bolls
• Plant density

Parameters to be measured for each plot:

• Grain yield and grain moisture
• Straw biomass yield
• Underseeding biomass yield
• Weed biomass yield
• Weed classification: broadleaves and grasses
• Oil quality and quantity
• Fiber quality and quantity

Involvement

IOWA:
Ames Experiment Station (Central IA)
Calumet Experiment Station (NW Iowa)

MINNESOTA:
University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Southwest Research and Outreach Center (Lamberton, MN)
Southern Research and Outreach Center (Waseca, MN)
Northwest Research and Outreach Center (Crookston, MN)
On Farm Site (Fertile, MN)

Contact

Hans Kandel
Email: kande001@umcrookston.edu
Phone: 218-281-8688