Sustainable Cropping System and Nutrient Management to Enhance Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Productivity and Profitability

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the effect of different cropping systems and nutrient management practices on growth, yield and economics of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) under Vertisol conditions of Chhattisgarh. Study Design: Split plot design. Place and Duration of Study: Research cum Instructional Farm, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.) during the kharif & rabi seasons of 2023-24 & 2024-25. Methodology: The experiment consisted four main plot treatments as cropping systems and four sub-plot treatments as nutrient management to linseed, replicated thrice using a split plot design. Linseed variety RLC-92 was sown at 25 kg ha⁻¹ with 30 cm row spacing during rabi season of both years of study. Nutrient sources included DAP, urea, SSP, MOP, vermicompost, and nano urea as foliar spray. Growth parameters (plant height, number of primary and secondary branches plant-1), Yield attributes (capsules plant⁻¹, seeds capsule⁻¹ and test weight), Yield (seed and stover yields), Economic indicators (cost of cultivation, GMR, NMR and B: C ratio) were recorded. Data were averaged over two years and analyzed using ANOVA with treatment means compared by LSD at 5% level of significance. Results: Based on the mean data from two consecutive years (2023–24 & 2024–25), significant variations were observed in growth and yield parameters of linseed, including plant height, number of primary & secondary branches plant-1 and number of capsules plant-1 under different cropping systems and nutrient management practices. The linseed crop sown after soybean recorded the highest seed and stover yields, which was statistically at par with linseed grown after blackgram and greengram. Similarly, gross monetary return, net return and benefit-cost (B:C) ratio were also found to be highest in the soybean-linseed cropping sequence. Among nutrient management treatments, the Soil Test Crop Response (STCR)-based nutrient management significantly outperformed other treatments in terms of seed and stover yields and was statistically at par with the application of 75% Recommended Dose of Nutrients (RDN) through (75 % inorganic sources + 25% through organic source i.e. vermicompost), along with two foliar sprays of nano urea. The STCR-based treatment also led to the highest gross monetary return, net return and B:C ratio. The interaction between cropping systems and nutrient management practices exerted a significant synergistic effect on plant height, number of primary and secondary branches plant-1, number of capsules plant-1and both seed & stover yields. Conclusion: Legume-based cropping systems combined with STCR and integrated nutrient management significantly improved linseed growth, yield and economic returns, highlighting their potential for sustainable and efficient linseed production.