Objectives
The project objective was to demonstrate the relative performance of current flax varieties in addition to some of those that will be commercially available to producers in the next few years.
Project Description
The Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation (IHARF) conducted field demonstrations in 2013 and 2014 on behalf of the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission (SaskFlax) to demonstrate the relative performance of a wide range of current flax varieties in addition to some that will become commercially available over the next few years. Overall, the two seasons differed greatly with 2013 being near optimal with well above average yields and more stressful conditions and much lower yields in 2014. Plant densities were lower in 2013 in 2014, but this may have been due in part to the relative timing of the measurements and differences amongst varieties were likely due largely to differences in seed size and germination which were not accounted for. Maturity was similar from one year to the next and all of the varieties matured within 3-4 days of one another on average. Seed yields averaged 3243 kg ha-1 (52 bu ac-1) and no differences amongst varieties were significant according to the multiple comparisons test. In 2014, yields were lower at 1550 kg ha-1 (25 bu ac-1) and ranged from 1351-186 kg ha-1 with several significant differences detected. It is not uncommon for relative varietal performance to vary with growing conditions, and this project illustrates the importance of considering large datasets and long-term averages and factors other than mean yield when comparing and selecting varieties.
