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GROWTH RHYTHMS OF LINSEED (LINUM USITATISSIMUM L.)

FAYYAZ-UL-HASSAN SAID, MALCOLM H. LEITCH* AND SHAHBAZ AHMAD*

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at the Marfa Mwar field station, Univesity of Wales Aberystwyth, UK. on a sandy loam soil during 1993 to evaluate the seed density and row spacing effects on the growth rhythms of linseed cv. Antares. The treatments comprised of four seeding densities (250, 500, 750 and 1000 seeds/m²) and three row spacings (12, 15, and 20 cm). Crop growth rate (CGR) was not affected by seed density during early growth period, while lower seed density gave higher CGR later in the season. A progressive reduction in relative growth rate (RGR) was observed with the age of the crop, giving the lowest values during maturity. A higher net assimilation rate (NAR) was observed with lower desnities, however the magnitude of difference was smaller at later growth stages. Row spacing effects and interactions remained statistically non-significant.

University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK.

Department of Agronomy, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.