Effect of Fertility Levels on Growth and Yield of Different Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Varieties

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2025-26 at the Agricultural Research Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomised block design with three replications. The field experiment consisted of three varieties, viz., (i) Pratap Alsi 2, (ii) Kota Barani Alsi 4 and (iii) Kota Barani Alsi 4, and four fertility levels, viz., (i) Control, (ii) 75% RDF, (iii) 100% RDF and (iv) 125% RDF. The soil of the experimental field was sandy in texture, with a pH of 7.58, organic carbon (OC) of 0.43%, available N, P and K of 217.30, 20.28 and 219.20 kg ha-1, respectively, and sulphur of 20.90 mg kg-1. The results indicated that higher growth parameters viz., plant height, number of primary & secondary branches, DMA, CGR and RGR; maximum yield attributes and yield viz., number of capsules plant-1 (60.78), number of seeds capsule-1 (8.50), test weight (10.00 g), seed yield (1769 kg ha-1), stover yield (4118 kg ha-1), biological yield (5886 kg ha-1) and harvest index (29.77%) were significantly higher for the variety PA 2. However, among the fertility levels, the results showed that higher growth parameters viz., plant height, number of primary & secondary branches, DMA, CGR and RGR; maximum yield attributes and yield viz., number of capsules plant-1 (56.17), number of seeds capsule-1 (7.86), test weight (9.24 g), seed yield (1610 kg ha-1), stover yield (3800 kg ha-1), biological yield (5410 kg ha-1) and harvest index (29.56%) were recorded with the application of 125% RDF; however, this treatment was statistically at par with the application of 100% RDF. Examination of the data indicated that the interaction effect of varieties and fertility levels was significant. Results indicated that the application of PA 2 + 125% RDF gave the maximum plant height at harvest (83.68 cm), DMA at harvest (9.21 g plant-1), seed yield (2180 kg ha-1) and stover yield (4940 kg ha-1), and it was statistically at par with the application of PA 2 + 100% RDF. However, the minimum values of these parameters were recorded in KBA 4 + control.