What are the cultivation methods for flax? A detailed explanation of the latest growing techniques

Flax is an annual herbaceous plant, and it is the earliest plant fiber used by humans; the fabric made from it has the characteristics of absorbing sweat and good breathability. At the same time, with advances in technology, it has been found to have a relatively high oil content, so it is also a very good oilseed crop with extremely wide uses. Below, Qinnong Web brings you its cultivation methods.

1. Soil selection and land preparation

Flax prefers a cool and humid climate, is cold-tolerant, and fears high temperatures. It is suitable for planting in soil with deep soil layers, loose and fertile texture, and good drainage, preferably land where crops such as corn or wheat have been grown before. In addition, flax seeds are relatively small and have weak sprouting and soil-piercing ability, so land preparation before planting is a necessary process. Clear weeds and debris from the planting site, then deep-plow the soil, then break up large clods of compacted soil so that the soil is loose and fine.

2. Seed selection and treatment

Before planting, selecting good seeds is the primary condition for achieving high and high-quality yields. Choose excellent varieties with strong adaptability, strong disease resistance, and suitability for local growing conditions. The seeds used for sowing should be plump and defect-free; remove small seeds and seeds with impurities. Place the seeds under the sun for 1-2 days; this can increase the germination rate. To prevent diseases, seed dressing with chemicals can be used.

3. Sowing

The climate and soil environment of each region are different, so the sowing time also differs slightly; generally, the sowing time is in early May. When sowing, pay attention to sowing density. If sowing is too dense, there will be competition for light and nutrients, causing many seedlings to have slender stems and tall plants, but they are prone to lodging, and the yield is not high; however, if sowing is insufficient, flax stems are thick and strong, but there are many branches, and both quality and yield are poor, resulting in low economic benefits. Generally, sow 100-110 kg per hectare, with about 2000 seedlings per sq m.

4. Reasonable fertilization

Flax has a relatively large demand for nutrients during growth, especially nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, but a relatively low demand for phosphorus fertilizer, and the nutrient requirements differ at each growth stage. In the early growth stage, the demand for nitrogen fertilizer is relatively large; in the peak growth season and flowering stage, the demand for potassium fertilizer is relatively large; the flowering stage also requires a large amount of phosphorus fertilizer. However, fertilization should not be excessive. For example, excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer will make plants prone to lodging, and excessive application of phosphorus fertilizer will cause plant dwarfing and premature aging. The flax root system is relatively weak, so fertilization should mainly be base fertilizer, supplemented by topdressing, and attention should also be paid to other trace elements.

5. Field management

Field management for flax consists of weeding and pest and disease control. Weeds have an enormous impact on the yield and quality of flax. If the early growth is not as strong as the weeds, it will affect flax growth. Weeding must be clean and thorough; in addition to manual weeding, chemical weeding can also be used. The main diseases of flax include damping-off, anthracnose, fusarium wilt, and powdery mildew. The main pests are flies and moths. During planting, observe carefully and deal with pests and diseases promptly.

The above are the flax cultivation methods brought to you by Qinnong Web. When planting flax, harvesting is also extremely critical. If it is not harvested at the right time, it will cause flax to become moldy and rot, so harvesting must be timely. Generally, harvest is carried out a period after the capsules turn yellow-brown and the leaves begin to fall off.