Studies on moisture conservation practices in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2020-2021 at Experimental Farm, of Agronomy Section, at College of Agriculture, Latur to determine the Studies on the moisture conservation practices in linseed. The soil of experimental plot was clay in texture, neutral in soil reaction having pH (7.02) with chemical composition such as available nitrogen (231 kg ha-1), slightly low in available phosphorous (8.57 kg ha-1) and very high in available potassium (580 kg ha-1). It was well drained and favorable for optimum crop growth. The gross monetary return was significantly influenced due to different treatments. Significantly the highest gross monetary return of ₹ 85,888 ha-1 was obtained with the application of soybean straw mulching at 5 t ha-1.The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with Eight treatments. The treatments were T1: No mulching, T2: Soybean straw mulching at 5 t ha-1, T3: Spreading of FYM at 5 t ha-1 as a mulch, T4: Incorporation of FYM in soil at 5 t ha-1, T5: Dust mulching at 30 DAS & Hand weeding, T6: Dust mulching at 30 DAS, Hand weeding & Hoeing at 45 DAS, T7: Dust mulching at 30 DAS & Hoeing, T8: Dust mulching at 30 DAS & Hoeing at 45 DAS. The gross and Net plot size of each experimental unit was 5.4 m x 4.5 m and 4.5 m x 3.6 m, respectively. Sowing was done on 09-November-2021 by dibbling method with seed rate of 20 kg ha-1. The recommended dose of fertilizer for linseed crop was 40:20:20: kg NPK ha-1. The result showed that application of Soybean straw mulching at 5 t/ ha-1 (T2) was found most effective for increasing growth and productivity of linseed. Among the different treatments, application of Soybean straw mulching at 5 t/ ha-1 was found beneficial in increasing growth, yield attributing characters and seed yield of linseed than No mulching alone or combination with Spreading of FYM at 5 t ha-1 as mulch respectively. Application of Soybean straw mulching at 5 t ha-1 (T2) was superior in respect of gross and net monetary returns and followed by T3 & T4. Similarly higher B:C ratio (2.29) was recorded with the application of Soybean straw mulching (T2).