Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)
Basic Information
- Botanical name: Linum usitatissimum L.
- Family: Linaceae
- Origin: Mediterranean region
- Common name: Flax, Fibre flax
- Uses: Fibre (linen cloth), seed (linseed oil – in oilseed type)
- Part used: Bast fibre from stem
Climate Requirement
- Grown in temperate regions
- Temperature: 10–25°C
- Rainfall: 600–1000 mm, evenly distributed
- Sensitive to drought & frost during seedling and flowering
Soil Requirement
- Fertile, well-drained loams & alluvial soils
- pH: 6.0–7.0
- Heavy clays & very sandy soils unsuitable
Sowing
- Season: Rabi season (Oct–Nov) in India
- Seed rate: 40–50 kg/ha (fibre type, dense sowing for tall plants)
- Spacing: 20 × 5 cm
- Depth: 2–3 cm
Varieties
- Fibre types: Nagarkot, Jawahar Flax 1, Pusa-2-11
- Oil × fibre dual-purpose: Neelum, Sharda
Nutrient Management
- General: 40–60 kg N + 30–40 kg P₂O₅ + 20 kg K₂O/ha
- N applied in 2 splits (basal + 30 DAS)
Irrigation
- Critical stages:
- Germination
- Flowering
- Capsule development
- Requires 4–5 irrigations depending on rainfall
Intercultural Operations
- 1–2 weedings up to 40 DAS
- Pre-emergence: Fluchloralin or Pendimethalin
Harvesting & Post-Harvest
- Harvest at early capsule stage (90–120 DAS) → finer fibres
- Plants pulled (not cut) to preserve maximum fibre length
- Retting: Water retting for 10–15 days → fibre extraction
- Fibre yield: 5–6 q/ha; Stick yield: 15–20 q/ha
Economic Importance
- Fibre → linen (durable fabric, ropes, twines, canvas)
- Shives (woody part) → particle boards, fuel
- Seed byproduct → linseed oil, cattle feed
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Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) – Fibre crop
Basic Information
- Botanical name: Cannabis sativa L.
- Family: Cannabaceae
- Origin: Central Asia (India–China region)
- Common name: Hemp, Industrial hemp
- Part used: Bast fibre (from stem)
- Note: Fibre hemp is different from narcotic type (marijuana)
Climate Requirement
- Warm temperate crop
- Temperature: 20–30°C optimum
- Rainfall: 600–1000 mm; needs humid climate
- Day length: Short-day plant
Soil Requirement
- Deep, fertile, well-drained alluvial loams
- pH: 6.0–7.5
- Avoid saline & acidic soils
Sowing
- Season: Spring/summer (March–April) or Kharif (June–July)
- Seed rate: 40–50 kg/ha
- Spacing: 30 × 10 cm
- Method: Broadcasting or line sowing
Varieties
- Indian cultivars: Punjab Hemp, Bombay Hemp
- Low-THC fibre hemp used for industry
Fertilizer Requirement
- 40–60 kg N + 20–40 kg P₂O₅/ha
- N in split doses (basal + top dressing)
- Irrigation; 3–4 irrigations depending on rainfall. Critical stage: Vegetative growth (for tall stems)
- Intercultural Operations; Weedings at 20 and 40 DAS. Herbicides like Pendimethalin effective
Harvesting & Post-Harvest
- Harvest at flowering stage (90–120 DAS) for best fibre quality
- Plants cut close to ground → retting in stagnant water (10–15 days)
- Fibre yield: 8–10 q/ha
Economic Importance
- Fibre → ropes, twines, canvas, sacks, coarse fabrics
- Blended with jute for diversified products
- Seed → oil (quick drying, used in paints/varnishes)
- Shives → fuel, pulp & paper
- Eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fibres
Quick MCQ Pointers (Flax vs Hemp)
- Flax family → Linaceae; Hemp family → Cannabaceae
- Fibre part → Bast (stem phloem)
- Flax = “linen fibre”; Hemp = coarse, strong fibre
- Flax harvested at early capsule stage; Hemp at flowering stage
- Fibre yield: Flax 5–6 q/ha, Hemp 8–10 q/ha
