Effect of agro-input management practices on yield of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) under vertisols of Chhattisgarh, India

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of agro-input management practices on yield of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) at the Instructional cum Research Farm, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, (C.G.) during Rabi 2015-16. Different agro input management practices had significant (P=0.05) effect on growth, yield attributes and yield of linseed. However, seed rates did not give significant influence on seed yield. Whereas, application of RDF + FYM placement in rows @ 5 t ha-1 (N3) recorded significantly (P=0.05) higher growth parameters viz. plant height (88.44 cm), primary branches plant-1 (3.83), secondary branches plant-1 (23.39), dry matter accumulation (6.76 g plant-1) and yield attributes viz. capsules plant-1 (30.86), seeds capsule-1(7.63), seeds plant-1 (235.32), seed yield (2100 kg ha-1) and stover yield (4885 kg ha-1). In case of foliar spray, application of 2 % urea at 15, 40, 65 and 90 DAS (F3) gave significantly higher growth parameters viz. plant height (88.37 cm), primary branches plant-1(3.82), secondary branches plant-1 (23.68), dry matter accumulation (6.59 g plant-1) and yield attributes viz. capsules plant-1(31.74), seeds capsule-1(7.63), seeds plant-1 (241.38), seed yield (2089 kg ha-1) and stover yield (4772 kg ha-1). Interaction among seed rate 30 kg ha-1 (S2) X RDF 60:30:30 N: P: K kg ha-1 (N1) with foliar application of 2 % urea at 15, 40, 65 and 90 DAS (F3) (S2 XN1X F3) recorded the highest benefit-cost ratio (4.39). Line placement of FYM was better than broadcasting in terms of seed yield; and foliar application of urea was economical than Nitrobenzene.