European Journal of Sustainable Agroecosystems

Overview: Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is the sixth-largest oilseed produced worldwide and a crucial rabi oilseed for the oil it contains rich in α-linolenic acid along with protein of high quality and industrial fiber. Linseed is a cool-season crop having its optimum temperature range over a narrow range of temperature; hence, phenology and yield of linseed depend on temperature and photoperiod during its growing season which therefore influences the sowing window. If not sown on time, the flowering and seed-filling periods of linseed may be exposed to frost conditions or high temperatures, affecting the yield and quality of oil.
Purpose: The paper reviews available scientific literature and incorporates evidence-based concepts regarding the influence of the sowing time on key parameters of linseed growth and the seed yield.
Literature collection: Data were collected from various sources like Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Indian Journal of Agronomy, other journals, and journals of agronomy, in conjunction with FAO data, and data from research institutions, with keywords such as linseed, flax, Linum usitatissimum, sowing dates, etc.
Important results: Across various agricultural systems, sowing at the proper time has ensured maximum seed yield while delaying sowing has resulted in a yield reduction by 10%–34% due to shorter vegetative growth and hastening of growing processes, besides causing stress during the reproductive stage. Sowing in the mid to late October period in the north and in mid-November in central and eastern India has proved to be effective in rabi crop systems; the earliest sowing date in the temperate and Mediterranean regions has ensured the highest oil content in seeds. Genotype-by-sowing interaction became apparent as some varieties were less adapted to later sowing.
Research gaps: There is insufficient research on thermal time (degree days) based sowing recommendations, multi-locational genotype x environment x sowing date experiments, climate change informed sowing window calculations and overall economics assessments.
Conclusion: Sowing date is the most important agronomic tool influencing linseed phenology as well as productivity in terms of cost.