Seed and Oil Quality of Flax After Swathing
1975
Dorrell, D. G. | Hodgins, M. W.
Seed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is frequently cut before fully ripe and left to mature in the swath to hasten or overcome uneven maturity. To determine how swathing effects seed yield as well as seed and oil quality, oilseed flax cultivars were planted at different times in 2 years; then swathed at three stages of seed development ranging from the start of ripening to fully ripe. Swathed plots were sampled during the course of drying and compared with plants left standing. Measurements were taken on capsule moisture, seed weight, yield, color, germination, and oil content as well as fatty acid composition and iodine number of the oil. If swathing took place when the majority of the capsules contained approximately 35% moisture, subsequent drying in the swath produced seeds of excellent quality. Seed weight and total seed yield from swathed plots were slightly reduced; fatty acid composition of the oil was essentially unaffected; and seed color, seed germination, and oil content were slightly higher when compared to flax plants left standing to mature normally. Plants could be swathed when capsules contained as much as 50% moisture and still produce a high quality oil; however, seed germination, seed color, and yield were significantly reduced.
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