Fiber flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) production in the Willamette Valley ended in
Oregon around 1957 before newly developed technology and fiber cultivars were
available. The purpose of this research was to explore the use of modern methods and
new cultivars.
Field studies were conducted to evaluate cultivars and optimum cultural practices that
would produce the highest yield and best fiber quality in the Willamette Valley on
Woodburn silty clay loam. A study was conducted to assess the winter hardiness of fifty
flax cultivars.
The effect of four different pull dates on straw and fiber yield and fiber quality were
investigated at two sites in 1995 and 1996. Pulling in stage 2, 3, or 4 resulted in an
increase in straw yield over pulling in stage 1 in 1996. No differences were detected in
fiber yield or caustic weight loss in response to pull date in either year. An acceptable
pulling window is stages 1-3 (range of 900 to 1300 growing degree days). Retting took
13 weeks in both years. Rainfall during the retting period was 10.7 cm in 1995 and 6.9
cm in 1996.
A field study was conducted in 1995 and 1996 to test the effect of three nitrogen (N)
levels (50, 75, and 100 kg ha�����) and three fiber flax cultivars (Ariane, Cascade, and
Viking) on straw yield. There was a significant increase in yield with increased N levels
in 1996. Higher levels of N increased yield in all three cultivars in both years. Lodging
of 'Cascade' increased with increased N levels in 1995.
The effect of three planting dates on yield and stand density of Ariane fiber flax were
investigated in 1995. The 31 March planting date produced the most retted straw (9704
kg ha�����).
A fall-planted winter cultivar experiment was conducted during 1994-95 and 1995-96. In 1994-95, four varieties (Ariane, Texala, Viking, and Hyslop Cascade) had greater
winter survival than Linore, the check variety. Only Linore withstood the second winter. / Graduation date: 1997
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/34199 |
| Date | 13 December 1996 |
| Creators | Kennedy, Ralph C. |
| Contributors | Knapp, Steven J. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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