Effects of Irrigation Period and Frequency on Yield and Quality of Linseed

【Objective】The effects of irrigation period and frequency on the yield and quality of linseed were clarified to provide reference for water-saving irvigation in linseed producing areas.【Method】The yields, qualities and lodging resistances of linseed under different irrigation treatments were evaluated in this study by setting irrigation treatments at 3 growth stages (fir-needle stage, initial flowering stage and filling stage) with different irrigation times (irrigating once in each period, irrigating twice in any 2 stages, and irrigating 3 times in all 3 stages).【Result】The results showed that irrigation had a positive effect on linseed growth in arid areas with annual rainfall of about 220 mm. Compared with the control without irrigation, each irrigation treatment increased the yield of linseed by 2.5%-75.1%. The average yield of irrigating once, twice and three times was 1 321.5 kg/hm2, 1 375.5 kg/hm2 and 1 870.5 kg/hm2, respectively, which was 23.7%, 28.8% and 75.1% higher than that of the control (1 068.0 kg/hm2), correspondingly. It was showed that the plants were more robust and with higher bending resistance in the treatment of fir-needle stage irrigation (including single and multiple irrigation) than in the treatment of no irrigation in the fir-needle stage. Compare to the control, the contents of crude fat and α-linolenic acid for irrigation treatments were lower, decreasing by 2.22%-6.96% and 0.21%-9.44%, respectively.【Conclusion】In this research, irrigation three times (irrigating once at fir-needle, initial flowering and filling stage, respectively) is an effective irrigation measure for linseed production in arid areas, and its net income is the highest, with an increase of 4 807.5 yuan/hm2 compared with no irrigation. However, the yield to input ratio of irrigating once (at the fir-needle stage) is the highest (4.06), and the yield efficiency is good, reaching 97% of the income of the treatment of irrigating three times, which can be used as an alternative water-saving irrigation scheme in this region.