Influence of harvesting methods on the seed yield of oil flax in the steppe zone of Northern Kazakhstan

Abstract

Background and Aim. In recent years, a steady increase in the cultivated area of oil flax has been observed in the Republic of Kazakhstan, owing to its high economic value. At the same time, the average yield of this crop remains relatively low. One of the key elements of the cultivation technology is the harvesting method. The aim of this study was to evaluate seed yield under different harvesting methodsof oil flax.
Materials and Мethods. The study was carried out using standard field experiment methodologies under climatic conditions contrasting in moisture availability, which made it possible to obtain an objective assessment of the effectiveness of the studied agronomic practices in years with differentweather conditions.
Results. Against the background of similar field emergence in all years of observation, significant differences in yield were determined mainly by the harvesting method. The highest yield values were achieved with two-stage harvesting, especially in years with more favorable moisture conditions, whereas a substantial decrease in productivity was observed when desiccation was applied.
Conclusion. The results were statistically significant and indicate a pronounced advantage of harvesting with preliminary windrowing under arid climatic conditions. Thus, two-stage harvesting can be recommended as the primary method for increasing the productivity of oil flax in agrocenoses in the northern regions of Kazakhstan.