Interaction of nitrogen and density on yield, nutrients content and nitrogen use efficiency in linseed (Linum usitatisimum L.)

It is important to determine the optimum nitrogen and plant density to increase linseed quantitative and qualitative yields, nutrients uptake and nitrogen use efficiency. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to achieve the best nitrogen and plant density combination in linseed. The experiment was conducted in Yasouj University, Iran, as a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2016. Treatments were nitrogen as main factor in five levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg N ha -1) and density as sub factor in three levels (50, 100 and 150 plant m-2). Maximum seed oil yield (982 Kg ha-1), seed yield (2525 Kg ha-1), grain protein (33.5 %),  seed mucilage (7.4%), seed phosphorus (0.41% ) and potassium (2.85%) were obtained from 100 kg N ha-1 at the density of 100 plants m-2. Maximum nitrogen use efficiency (79.5 kg kg-1) was obtained in 25 kg N ha-1 and 150 plants m-2 treatment, however the minimum (20.4 kg kg-1) obtained from minimum plant density and maximum nitrogen. Generally it is suggested the 100 plant m-2 density and 100 Kg ha-1 nitrogen to produce high linseed yield quantity and also quality in Yasouj region.