Summer School

21-27 July 2013, Catania-Italy

Crop management of fibre flax in Europe

1

K. Heller Institute of Natural Fibres & Medicinal Plants, Poznań, Poland

Contents

1. Introduction - Integrated methods of

agricultural production

2. Fibre flax place in agriculture - main

differences between fibre flax and

linseed

3. Fibre flax growing technologies

according to integrated farming

4. Conclusions

2

Poland in Europe

On January 1st, 2009 r. Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal

Plants was established as a state-owned R&D organization.

The roots of INF&MP

•Institute of Natural Fibres (1930)

•Institute of Medicinal Plant & Products (1955)

The main area of focus of our Institute is producing (agriculture), processing (industry)

and the application (market) of fibrous and medicinal plants.

Department of Botany,

Breeding and Agronomy

K.Heller,

Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants

ul. Wojska Polskiego 71B, 60-630 Poznań, Poland

e-mail: krzysztof.heller@iwnirz.pl

•Agronomy • Breeding

• Botany

•Gene banks

Fibrous plants

Medicinal plants

Energy plants

Oilseed plants

Area of activity

Currently in the UE, there are 3 systems of agricultural

production:

•Conventional Agricultural Production (intensive, industrial and classic agriculture)

•Integrated Agricultural Production (sustainable,

harmonic, ecological-economic agriculture)

•Organic Farming (biological, ecological, natural) (< 10%).

On one side we have intense conventional

farming, and on the other organic farming.

Integrated methods of agricultural production

can be treated as the golden mean between

organic and conventional farming.

According to the directive of the UE

2009/128/EC from 21.10.2009 all

members of the UE were obligated

(until January 1, 2014) to introduce

integrated systems of agricultural

production.

Integrated Production / Farming is a farming system that produces

high quality food and other products

by using natural resources and

regulating mechanisms to replace

polluting inputs and to secure

sustainable farming

11

In Integrated Farming

biological, technical and chemical

methods are balanced carefully taking

into account the protection of the

environment, profitability and social

requirements

Fibre flax - 2012 Linseed (oil flax) - 2011

Flax types (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Belarus 63 200 ha

Russia 55 000 ha

France 67 760 ha

Ukraine 2 184 ha

Belgium 500 ha

Poland 500 ha

China 50 000 ha

Russia 472 700 ha

China 350 000 ha

India 338 810 ha

Canada 273 200 ha

Kazakhstan 90 000 ha

France 77 292 ha

Ukraina 58 700 ha

Bialorus 49 981 ha

UK 36 000 ha

Italy 3 000 ha

Poland 2 160 ha

Flax cultivars

Fibre flax (73 cultivars ) Linseed (oil flax) – 77 Cv

•Hermes [FR]

•Ilona [NL]

•Escalina [NL]

•Venica [CZ]

• Symphonia [UK]

TSW 3,4 – 5,3 g TSW 5,4 - 14,0 g TSW (Thousand Seed Weight)

Morphology

Fibre flax Linseed

80-150 cm tall

Poorly branched

*the part of the stem with branches

is 1/6 of total stem length

45-80 cm tall

More branched

*the part of the stem with branches

is 1/3 of total stem length

Longer period of vegetation

The primary yield are seeds,

and straw is the secondary

yield

25% of the Amercian

dollar is made of

linen fibre, and 75%

is cotton

•96-106 days of

vegetation

The main yield is

fibre, seeds stand

only 1/7 of total

yield value

Weather conditions

Fibre flax Linseed

Moderate climate

the best is cloudy, humid weather

– is not resistante to hot

temperatures, and drought)

Continental climate

(resistant to warm

temperatures and

periodic drought)

Crucial (critical) moments (elements) in flax

growing

Fibre flax Linseed

•drought & hot temperature

•sowing density

•lodging

•weeds

•diseases

• insects

• weeds

•diseases

• insects

Flax sowing

Fibre flax Linseed

•120 -140 kg/ha

•8-12 cm distance between rows

•depth– 2 cm

•50-60 kg/ha

•20-30 cm distance between rows

•depth 2-3 cm

Time of flax sowing

Fibre flax Linseed

When soil temperature is >7-9 oC Linseed can be sown

later because the main

yield is seed

Harvesting

Fibre flax Linseed

Stage BBCH 83 –

green yielow maturity of straw

BBCH – 89

yiellow maturity of straw

Flax pulling machine - Czech Combine harvester (LK-4D - Russia) for fibre flax

pulling, decapsulling

Technique of flax harvesting

Fibre flax Linseed

Pulling

Cutting - mowing

Liebig's Law (1828) states that growth

only occurs at the rate permitted by the

limiting factor

In EU region the limiting

factor that affects flax yield

very often are weather

conditions (precipitation)

Fibre flax resistance to water deficit In the soil

23

The effect of soil humidity to the fibre flax development

Fibre flax cultivars resistance to stress of drought

Selena (PL) Alfonso (ARG)

Fibre flax should be grown in areas

where the annual precipitation is at least

600-650 mm, and where at least 110-150

mm of rain falls in the vegetation period.

Flax plants transpire very high amounts

of water. The transpiration coefficient is

the amount of water necessary to

produce one unit of dry matter. In flax,

this, is very high – 400-600.

drought stress - 25 % FWC

optimal soil humidity - 45 % FWC

The effect of soil moisture on fibre quality

The influence of humidity and type of soil on the yield of flax straw

(1967-2012 average from 312 field trials)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Grey brown

podzolic soil

Meadow black

earth

Dry years (<200 mm)

Medium humid years (200-300 mm)

Humid years (>300 mm)

Dry years - < 200 mm (vegetation period)

Medium humid years – 200-300 mm

Humid years – > 300 mm

18 - 19 October 2012 Kick-off meeting, Bologna 28

•Fibre flax does not require high temperatures.

•high temperatures during vegetation clearly have a

negative effect on growth and development.

•Moderate temperatures (18-20 oC) and the

accompanying cloud cover promote high yields (Xinwen,

1997).

•Mild solar operation contributes to good stem growth,

which results in a good anatomical stem structure and

high long fibre efficiency (Agosti et al., 2005).

Temperature

Flax place in crop rotation

•the best forecrop (the crop before) for fibre

flax are cereals – especially wheat.

•another good choice is root crops (sugar

beet, patatos),

•Flax should not be grown on the same field

more than once in 7 years.

this is the time required for the soil to clean

itself of Fusarium pathogens. Following

this rule will ensure high yields and

pathogen free plants.

The effect of forecrop on fibre flax yield (1967-2012) average from 312 field trials

6,28

56,31

7,88

66,45

9,57

68,2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

potato sugar beet winter wheat

Yield of seed (dT/ha)

Yield of deseeded straw (dT/ha)

Soil requirements of fibre flax

fertile, medium-heavy soil, in good culture,

particularly humus sandy clay soils, that

create no crust, and with regulated

water/soil/air ratio

• The optimum pH of the soil for flax is 6,5-6,9

31

The use of highly efficient cultivars is very important

The characteristic of highly efficient cultivars (acc.

M. Pavelek 2012)

• Resistance to pathogen complex: 8 p.

• Resistance to abiotic stresses (drought, high temp.): 5-6 p.

• Middle vegetation period;

• Yielding potential of unretted stem – 7-8 t.ha-1;

• Yielding potential of seeds – 1.10-1.30 t.ha-1;

• Long fibre content potential – 22-25 %

• Total fibre content potential – 39-41 %

• Long fibre yielding potential reached In trials: 1,25-1,40 t.ha-1;

• Total fibre yielding potential reached in trials: 2,50-3,50 t.ha-1

33

34

Currently registred in UE are :

•73 fibre flax cultivars

•77 linseed cultivars

•6 varietes - "forma aestiva"

•4 varietes "forma hibernalis"

Resistance to drought (51 genotypes)

Cultivars

Fibre flax (36 cultivars) Linseed (15 cultivars)

Alba (PL), Artemida (PL), Modran (PL), Nike (PL),

Luna (PL), Selena (PL), Atena (PL), Eskalina (NL),

Elektra (NL), Ilona (NL), Sara (PL), Venica (Cz), Achay

(ARG), Temida (PL), Hermes. (FR), Agatha (NL), Ceasar

Augustus (NL), Diane (FR), Ariane (FR), Drakkar (FR),

Adelie (FR),Elise (NL),Evelin (NL), Alizĕe (FR), Melina

(FR), Argos (FR ), Vizin (LT), Aleksim (RUS), PEK 810

(PL), Ariadna (PL), Bryta (PL), Fortuna (PL), Izolda (PL),

Milenium (PL), Minerwa (PL), Svapo (PL)

Alfonso Inta (ARG), Giza

(Egipt), Symphonia (UK), Achay

( ARG), Bukoz (PL), Opal (PL),

Oliwin (PL),

Amon ( CZ), Jantarol (PL), Jeny

(PL), Marta (F ), Geria ( RO),

Szafir (PL), LCSD 200 (PL),

Szafir (PL)

Linum genotypes evaluated for drought tolerance Pętkowo Experimental Farm (2002-2012)

The effect of drought stress on flax deseeded straw yield [g/pot] EF Pętkowo, 2002-2012

Decrease of flax straw yield: 34,3 - 42,3 %

Fertilization requirements NPK- by a ratio of 1:2:3 (1:2:4)

• N - 10-20 kg/ha - on good (rich) soils (flax lodging)

•N = 40 kg/ha) (middle compact soils),

• (when we observe chlorosise syndrom - 10 kgha N in

post emergent application)

•P2O5 - 50-70 kg/ha -

[P effects on seed yields and fibre content (%) in flax straw]

•K2O - 100-140 kg/ha -

(K effects on fibre yield and its quality)

Fertilization requirements

Nitrogen

• humus resources of the soil > 2 % N - 10-20 kg/ha

• humus 1%- 2 % N - 40 kg/ha

• humus < 1% N - 60 kg/ha

41

N- has a critical impact on: • fibre content, •fibre lent and •stem diameter

Is necessary for growth, but excessive doses cause thickening of stems and reduce fibre strength. Excessive doses of nitrogen, however, lead to flax lodging particularly in high precipitation conditions and larg plant den sity.

Nitrogen

Fertilization requirements Phosphorus resources of soil

• > 11 mg P2O5 in 100 g of soil P2O5 - 30 kg/ha

• 6-10 mg P2O5 in 100 g of soil P2O5 - 50 kg/ha

•< 5 mg P2O5 in 100 g of soil P2O5 - 70 kg/ha

43

P – has impact on: proper length of straw,

proper number of fibre bundles in each

stem.

Excessive doses of phosphorus, however, lead to

shortening and branching of the stem, which

reduces the fibre’s tensile strength. .

Phosphorus

• > 16 mg K2O in 100 g of soil 60 kg /ha K2O

• 10-15 mg K2O in 100 g of soil 100 kg/ha K2O

•< 9 mg K2O in 100 g of soil 140 kg/ha K2O

Fertilization requirements POTASSIUM resources of soil

45

K - the beneficial effect of potassium is only revealed when nitrogen is correctly applied.

Potassium - has a beneficial influence on:

•fibre strength •fibre elasticity, •dew retting process.

POTASSIUM

46

MgO - deficiency causes:

leaf chlorosis

stem shortening

When growing flax on soils with low magnesium

content, it is recommended to apply magnesium

fertilizers at 40-80 kg MgO per ha.

47

Zn - is important for plant health.

On organic-mineral or half-bog soils, and on newly

cultivated fields, a supplement of copper in the form of copper

sulphite should be applied at 25 kg/ ha.

Zinc

Soil pH has a significant effect on zinc assimilation: the

more acidic the soil reaction, the better the uptake of zinc

48

Cu – plays an essential role: in chlorophyll formation, in seed formation

Copper,

Cu - is essential for proper enzyme activity

When growing flax on soils with low copper content, it is

recommended to apply copper fertilizers at 6-10 kg Cu per

ha. (300 g/ha Cu in post emergent application)

sowing time – in Europe, flax is sown in the period when

the upper layer of soil is warmed up to 7-9 oC [fenologically, when marsh marigold (Caltha sp.) and wood

anemone (Anemone nemorosa L.) bloom].

The best period is a few days after oat sowing and a

couple days before barley planting.

Depending on region, this

corresponds to the period from:

• 15th March-15th April in France

• up to first decade of May in

Northern Ireland. Caltha palustris

Anemone nemorosa L

The effect of sowing time on fibre flax yield (1967-2012) average from 312 field trials

7,92

63,62

6,83

56,52

6,2

52,6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

before 20th

April

20th April-1st

May

after 1st May

Yield of seed (dT/ha)

Yield of deseeded straw

(dT/ha)

(

sowing density – 24 –28 mln seeds per 1 ha which

accounts to 120-140 kg/ha

Optimal plant density during harvesting day should

be 16-18 million plants/ha

depth of planting - 2 cm

High plant population density gives high

stem yields and fibre quality, suppressing

stem branching

Flax seeder – Fiona

Technique of flax seeds sowing

(drilling and stripe sowing),

Sowing density (2 200 - 2 800 seeds m-2),(110 -140 kg/ha)

stripe sowing

row sowing

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

110 kg/ha [stripe] 110 kg/ha [row] 140 kg/ha [stripe] 140 kg/ha [row]

Yie

ld o

f fl

ax f

ibre

[kg/h

a] BBCH 65

BBCH 75

BBCH 83

The effect of sowing method and harvest date on fibre yield

Cv Modran (PL) - EF Pętkowo, EF Stary Sielec (2005-2006)

The effect of plants density and harvesting time on the

linear mass (Tex) of fibre

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

Line

ar m

ass [

tex]

2200 2800 2200 2800 2200 2800 2200 2700

Artemida (PL) Modran (PL) Hermes (F) Agata (NL)

■ ■ ■ ■ BBCH 65

■ ■ ■ ■ BBCH 75

■ ■ ■ ■ BBCH 83 EF Pętkowo, EF Stary Sielec - 2007

600 fibre flax plants per 1 m2 - flax plants were branched

which lead to a low quality of flax fibre

57

Control of soil crust

On heavy, crusty and confluent soils, the use

of a spiked roller or ring roller is

recommended, and sometimes a pre-sowing

light harrow.

Post emergent cultivation – plant protection

ring roller Cambridge

58

BBCH 00 10 11 12 14 16 36 55 65 75 83 85

TRIPS

HALTICINEAE

HARVESTING

DISEASES

DISEASES

WEEDS

GRAPHIC SCHEDULE OF FIBRE FLAX PROTECTION

The predominant weeds in flax cultivation in Europe are the

typical species that infest root crops and small grains. The

most frequent and most numerous species in fibre flax are:

dicotyledonous • Chenopodium album L.,

• Fallopia convolvulus (L) Löve,

• Viola arvensis Murr.,

• Stellaria media Vill.,

• Lamium amplexicaue L.,

• Thlaspi arvense L.,

• Polygonum nodosum Pers.

monocotyledonous • Elytriga repens (L.) Nevski, Poa annua L.,

• and Echinochloa cruss-galli (L.) P.B. , Avena fatua L.

Weed control

The effect of the level of weed infestation on fibre flax yield

(1967-2001) average from 301 field trials

Herbicides can be divided depending on time of

application:

pre-emergence (applied on the soil before germination

of the crop)

and post-emergence treatments (applied after cultivated

plant germination).

Herbicides are classified by use:

some control dicotyledonous plants (so called broad-

leaf)

while others (graminicides) control monocotyledonous

weeds (grasses)

Herbicides for weed control in fibre flax pre-emergence herbicides (for control dicotyledonous

weeds):

• linuron

• or mixture linuron + lenacil

Herbicides for weed control in fibre flax

post-emergence herbicides (applied after

germination when flax is 6-12 cm tall)

for dicotyledonous weeds control: MCPA,

bentazone, chlorosulfuron, thifensulfuron methyl,

amidosulfuron, sulcotrione, bromoxynil, metsulfuron methyl,

flupyrsulfuron- methyl, linuron + chlorosulfuron and

clopyralid.

For monocotyledonous weeds (grasses)

graminicides are recommended : asulam, fluaizof-P-

buthyl, haloxyfop-R, diclofop-methyl, chizalofop-P-etyhl,

trialat, TCA-Na, chletodym, cykloksydym, EPTC, fenoxaprop-

P ethyl and other products

Herbicides for weed control in fibre flax

64

Disease management in flax growing

Diseases can be divided into two groups:

root mycosis and diseases caused by soil resident

fungi, which attack root systems and plants in the

initial stage of vegetation, causing rotting and dying of

seedlings and older plants (Fusarium wilt, Septoriosis

[pasmo], Rhizoctonioze [Black scurf]).

diseases of stems and leaves on which the

mycelium or pericarp grow (Rust, Anthracnose, Gray

Mildew, Oidium ).

65

Fibre flax diseases Degree * of

importance

Fusarium wilt - caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.lini +++

Rust - caused by Melampsora lini (Ehrenb.) ++

Anthracnose - caused by Colletotrichum lini ++

Septoriosis ( pasmo) - caused by Septoria linicola ++

Rhizoctonioze (Black scurf) - caused by Rhizoctonia solani ++

Gray Mildew - caused by Botrytis cinerea +

Oidium (powdery mildew) – caused by Oidium lini. +

Black mould - caused by Alternaria linicola, Alternaria tenuis -

Fomoza - caused by Phoma exiqua var. Desmas. var. Linicola +

Bacterial disease of flax – caused by Bacillus cerealium -

The degree of fibre flax infestation by disease in UE

*/ +++ very dangerous disease; ++ dangerous disease; + middle dangerous disease; - low important

disease

Fusarium oxysporium f. lini

the economical damage threshold for fusarium wilt is reached when 5 %

of all plants (in the phase BBCH 32) are damaged by fungi

67

Fibre flax affected by Fusarium wilt - caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.lini

Fusarium wilt

68

Fursarium wilt is the most frequently encountered disease in

most countries in Europe, causing yield losses of 80-100%

Protection against Fusarium wilt comes down to preventive

measures namely;

• crop rotation (at least 7 year break in flax cultivation),

• use of resistant cultivars,

• treatment of seeds with products containing such a.i. as

carbendazim, tiuram, cyproconazole, fludioxonil, flutriazole,

thiabendazole, captam and mancozeb

• recommended products on leaf applications are based on :

benomyl, prochlorase, carbendazim + fluquinconazole and

flutriafol, (These substances effectively protect against

progressive tracheamycosis, providing they are used early, when

plants are 15-20 cm tall).

Rust

Fibre flax plants damaged by Melampsora linii which caused rust

the economical damage threshold for rust– is 15 % of plants infected

by fungi (phase BBCH 32)

Rust

70

Rust is common in regions where fibre flax is

cultivated. The disease is caused by Melampsora lini

(Ehrenb.)

Characteristic symptoms of rust are bright

orange and powdery pustules, which develop

on leaves, stems and bolls. Stems overgrown

by the mycelium produce very low value, bad

quality fibre.

The best method for controlling the disease is

the use of resistant cultivars.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose symptoms

(caused by Colletotrichum lini)

on fibre flax plant

Fibre flax seed infected

by Colletotrichum lini

the economical damage threshold for anthracnose is reached

when 15 % of plants are infected in the phases BBCH 11-12

Anthracnose

72

Anthracnose, is caused by Colletotrichum lini (Westerdijk) Tochinai

It occurs all over the world in regions where flax is cultivated. It is

particularly a problem in Belarus, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Ukraine

and France.

Protection of plantations against Anthracnose comes down to preventive

measures:

correct crop rotation,

growing resistant cultivars,

using pathogen-free sowing seeds,

seed dressing treatments containing carbendazim + tiuram,

carbendazim, flutriafol + thiabendazole, cyproconazole +

fludioxonil and iprodione + carbendazim

During the vegetation period, the on-leaf application of chemicals

containing copper oxychloride, benomyl, prochlorase are used .

Septoriosis (pasmo)

Septoriosis symptoms on fibre flax plants

Septoriosis

74

Septoriosis, commonly called flax pasmo, can have a significant financial

impact for flax growers. The disease is caused by Septoria linicola (Speg.),

Garassini

It is a fungus that develops in leaf tissue, seed bolls, and stems, where it

causes negative changes in fibre quality. In Poland, Septoriosis was a

quarantine disease until recently, and so does not occur there.

The effective protective methods against pasmo are:

•crop rotation (3-year break before cultivation of flax on the same field),

•early sowing,

•use of qualified, pathogen-free seeds.

•seed dressing: cyproconazole + fludioxonil, flutriazole, carbendazim, flutriafol,

azoksystrobin, fludioxonil + cyproconazole, tebuconazole + triadimefon,

flusilazole + carbendazim

Among the recommended treatments for flax protection against Septoriosis are

the following, which should in most cases be applied twice during vegetation

period: benomyl, carbendazim, prochlorase,

75

Plantations of fibre flax can become infested by various pests, such as: flee

beetles, flax thrips, curworms, gamma moths. Polyphags, including crane flies

and nematodes, can also cause problems.

The biggest losses are caused by

flea beetles (Longitarsus parvulus Payk.

and Aphtona euphorbiae Schrank.)

thrips (Trips linarius Ladureu and T.

angusticeps Uz.)

Flea beetles

76

flea beetles (Longitarsus parvulus Payk. i Aphtona euphorbiae Schrank.)

Spray until flax is 5 cm tall, if necceseery repeat the application after 7-10 days. If plants are higher than 5 cm tall these insects do not pose a threat

the economical damage threshold for flea beetles – 5-10 insects/ 1m2

To control flea beetles in fibre flax we can use such products as lambda-

cyhalothrin, acephate, alphamethrin, beta-cyfluthrin, delta-methrin,

esfenvalerate), metomyl omethoate, vamidithion and acetamipryd.

Flea beetles

77

Trips (Trips linarius Ladureu and T. angusticeps Uz.)

the economical damage thresholdof for trips – 2 insects/ 10 flax

plants

Spray during BBCH 34 -51 phases [from flax is 40 cm tall till BBCH

51 (First flower buds visible)], if necessary repeat aplication after 10-

14 days.

For trips control in fibre flax we can use such a.i. as

lambda-cyhalothrin, acephate, alphamethrin, beta-

cyfluthrin, delta-methrin, esfenvalerate), metomyl

omethoate, vamidithion and acetamipryd.

Trips

Critical elements of integrated plant protection are:

•Non-chemical methods

•Setting the economical damage threshold for the

increased appearance of diseases, pests, and weeds

•Effective systems to support farmers in making the right

decisions

•Protection of beneficial entomofauna

•Following the rules of Safety and Hygiene of the Work

during plant protection product application

Methods of decreasing pesticide doses:

•Cultivars resistant to lodging, diseases and

drought

Seed dressing based on microelements

Appropriate time of plant protection

product application

Pesticide mixture application

Precise pesticide application

•Adjuvants

•harvesting time – the optimum is the beginning of flax green -

yellow maturity stage (BBCH 83)

Plants morphogenesis – fibre formation

To the left, a cross-section of flax stem at 20 cm lenght – no fibers formed; to the right a cross-

section when flax was 30 cm tall – first elementary fibres visible (magnification 250 times)

(INF&MP Poznan, 2004)

Elementary fibres no visible First elementary fibres BBCH 32 (20 cm) BBCH 33 (30 cm)

Transverse section through

a fibre flax stem - ( gain 10 x 25)

BBCH 65 - Full flowering: 50 % of flowers

open

fibres

Flax fibres gain x 1000

Transfer section through flax fibres

gain x 500

BBCH 65 - Full flowering: 50 % of flowers open

Transverse section through

a fibre flax stem - ( gain 10 x 25)

BBCH 71 - 10 % of flax capsules have reached final size

Bundles of fibres

“technical fibres”

Flax fibres gain x 1000

Transfer section through

flax fibres

gain x 500

BBCH 77 - 70 % of flax capsules have reached final size

Transfer section through flax fibres

(gain 10 x 25)

Flax fibres

gain x 1000

Bundles of fibres

“technical fibres”

Dutch linen lace

Fibre bundles very well formed

Flax fibres well formed gain x 1000

(Stems are yellow to 1/3 of height, leafs fallen

off from the bottom to 1/4 of height.

Bolls of flax begin to turn yellow)

BBCH 83 - green-yellow maturity of flax

Transfer section through flax fibres

gain x 500

BBCH – 85 – yellow maturity of flax Flax fibres gain x 1000

BBCH 85 - yellow maturity of flax

87

In Western Europe self propelling machines are

applied – type ARAHY (pulling, swathing) and

AECACHY (straw layer deseeding), produced by

DEPOORTERE Belgium. Another known fibre flax

harvesting machine producer is DEHONDT France.

Pulling and swathing of flax in central and eastern

Europe is mostly done by Russian hooked combines:

LKW–4T, LK–4T, LKW–4A and LK–4A.

The LKW–4T and LK–4T combines, allow pulling,

seed removal and swathing straw in layers. The

LKW–4A i LK–4A allow pulling, seed removal and

binding straw in bundles (optionally binding in

bundles may be eliminated).

88

Self-propelled combine turning over the swath of straw

and deseeding flax

Fibre flax pulling machine - Dehondt - France

Czech Fibre flax pulling machine

Fibre flax pulling machine - Czech

Combine harvester (LK-4D - Russia) for fibre

flax pulling, decapsulling

Turning machine for flax straw- Dehondt - France

Harvesting and retting

•Pulling of flax and decapsulling (green-yellow maturity phase -BBCH 8.3)

•Retting of flax

• water retting

•dew retting (ground or field retting)

Retting - the process of stem preparation for fibre

extraction - decomposition of pectin

(fibre bundles are cemented to wood by

pectin)

Sclerenchyma

fibres are cemented

by pectin

• dew-retting is mainly caused by:

- fungi (Alternaria spp., Aspergillus,

Cladosporium, Mucor, Rhisopus)

- bacteria (Bacillus spp., Bacterium coli)

Harvesting and retting

Process dew retting depends weather

conditions (moisture and temperature)

Turning of dew-retted straw

Pulling, decapsulling, and flax straw swathing

2 weeks of dew retting on the field

Balling of dew-retted straw

2 weeks of dew retting on the field

Unit for fibre extraction - Czech Republic

Unit for fibre extraction - Czech Republic

The presented integrated crop

management systems of fibrous

flax cultivation are not simply

an imposed model or solution,

but rather, it is a process

constantly being updated and

perfected.

CONCLUSION