Effect of Sowing Dates on Yield Attributes, Yield and Economics of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Varieties

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2020-2021 at Agronomy farm, College of Agriculture, Nagpur to study the effect of sowing dates on yield attributes, yield and economics of linseed varieties. The treatment comprised of four sowing dates, i.e., 43rd meteorological week (22nd October - 28th October), 44th MW (29th October - 4th November), 45th MW (5th November - 11th November) and 46th MW (12th November - 18th November) in main plots and three varieties i.e., PKV-NL-260, PKV-NL-97 and JLS-73 in sub-plots, replicated three times in a split plot design. Sowing dates as well as varieties significantly affect yield attributes, yield and economics of linseed. The result of the experiment showed significantly higher number of capsule plant-1 (52.89), number of seed capsule-1 (8.11), seed yield (9.13 quintal/hectare), biological yield (25.45 q ha-1) and harvest index (35.87%), gross monetary return (Rs. 44688 ha-1) and net monetary return (Rs. 23436 ha-1) with benefit cost ratio (2.10) were recorded when crop sown during 44th MW. The variety PKV-NL-260 recorded significantly higher number of capsule plant-1 (48.08), number of seed capsule-1 (8.25), seed yield (8.85 q ha-1), biological yield (24.92 q ha-1) and harvest index (35.52%), gross monetary return (Rs. 43478 ha-1) and net monetary return (Rs. 22226 ha-1) with benefit cost ratio (2.04). The sowing date on 44th MW along with variety PKV-NL-260 was found significantly higher seed yield (9.95 q ha-1), gross monetary return (Rs. 48225 ha-1) and net monetary return (Rs. 26973 ha-1). Linseed crop sown during 44th MW along with variety PKV-NL-260 performed better than variety PKV-NL-97 and JLS-73.