A field experiment titled “Performance of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Varieties to Different Sowing Dates in Northern Hills Zone of Chhattisgarh” was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024-25 at the Instructional Farm, Raj Mohini Devi College of Agriculture and Research Station, Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh. The objectives were to identify the optimal sowing date and variety for maximizing growth and yield. The study utilized a split-plot design with three replications, comprising three sowing dates- last week of October (D1) i.e. 25 Oct, second week of November (D2) i.e. 10 Nov and last week of November (D3) i.e. 25 Nov as main plots and three varieties RLC-143 (V1), R-552 (V2), and RLC-92 (V3) as subplots. Observations included growth parameters (plant population, height, primary branches, dry matter accumulation), phenological stages (days to 50% flowering, 50% maturity, and maturity), yield attributes (capsules per plant, seeds per capsule, test weight).
Results revealed that sowing in the second week of November (D2) resulted in the highest plant population (200.22 plants m⁻² at 30 DAS; 179.67 at harvest, though non-significant), and significantly greater plant height (55.58 cm), number of primary branches (3.48 plant⁻¹), dry matter accumulation (6.77 g plant⁻¹), capsules plant⁻¹ (56.67), seeds capsule⁻¹ (7.84), and test weight (7.27 g). These values were at par with D1 and significantly superior to D3, where delayed sowing led to reduced performance and low yield. Sowing in the second week of November (D2) recorded the highest yields with 2.85 g seed plant⁻¹, 1159.38 kg ha⁻¹ seed yield, and 2567.33 kg ha⁻¹ stover yield, which were statistically at par with the last week of October sowing (D1: 2.63 g plant⁻¹, 1124.67 kg ha⁻¹, and 2502.67 kg ha⁻¹, respectively). Delayed sowing to the last week of November (D3) resulted in significantly lower yields (2.41 g plant⁻¹, 1023.56 kg ha⁻¹, and 2413.67 kg ha⁻¹). Among varieties, RLC-92 (V3) exhibited significantly superior performance in terms of plant height (61.91 cm), primary branches (3.58 plant⁻¹), dry matter accumulation (7.00 g plant⁻¹), capsules plant⁻¹ (57.67), seeds capsule⁻¹ (7.93), test weight (7.31 g), seed yield (1260.82 kg ha⁻¹), and stover yield (2635.33 kg ha⁻¹), followed by R-552 (V2) and RLC-143 (V1). RLC-92 (V3) also matured earlier (115.67 days) and flowered fastest (60.44 days).
It is concluded that sowing linseed in the second week of November using variety RLC-92 is most effective for maximizing growth and productivity in the Northern Hills Zone of Chhattisgarh.
