Usage of iron foliar spray in enhancing the growth and yield of the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum L)

Abstract

The ideal growth and development of linseed plants depend on receiving the necessary nutrients during the growing season when they are grown. Flax's yield and oil content increase using a foliar spray containing micronutrients. This study aimed to determine how foliar iron (Fe) treatment affected flax yield and its constituents. The experiment was set up at the adoptive research farm Sargodha in a randomized block design and three replicates. At the capsule filling stages and bud initiation of the flax crop, foliar sprays with varying concentrations of Fe (5.5%, 4.5%, 3.5%, 2.5%, 1.5%) and without Fe (control) were administered. Sulphate of iron (Fe) was used as the source of Fe. All treatments resulted in notable enhancements in agronomic characteristics such as grain oil contents, harvest index, biological yield, number of capsule formations, technical stem length, plant height, as well as physiological parameters including fluorescence yield (Ft), quantum yield (YII), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), electron transport rate (ETR), and chlorophyll contents. The results of this study suggested that the application of 3.5% to flax during the bud initiation and capsule filling stages increases the seed yield, yield attributes, and oil contents. In conclusion, foliar spray of Fe could enhance the yield of linseed crops.