Production performance of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) to fertility levels and seed rates in dryland conditions of eastern Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2006 and 2007 at research farm. Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi to assess the production performance of linseed under different fertility levels and seed rates in dry land ecosystem of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The results revealed that increase in fertility level from F₀ (Control) to F₃ (60:30:30:30 kg NPKS ha⁻¹) significantly increased all growth and yield attributes characters during both years. The increase in yield attributes with NPKS fertilizer level resulted in increased seed and straw yield. However, the significantly marked influence of varying seed rates were also observed and it was found that increase in seed rate significantly decreased in growth and yield attributes of linseed crop. In case of economics, maximum B: C ratio was recorded with the fertility level F2 (40:20:20:20 kg NPKS ha⁻¹) and seed rate @ 30 kg ha⁻¹. The consumptive use of soil moisture was significantly increased with increase in fertility level and seed rate and it was maximum with the fertility level F₃ - (NPKS applied @ 60:30:30:30: kg ha⁻¹) and seed rate (S₂)@30 kg ha⁻¹.