Flaxseed Cultivation in India: Techniques, Tips & Complete Growing Guide

Table of Contents

• Flaxseed Cultivation in India
• Nutritional Profile of Flaxseeds
• Why Flaxseeds are Considered a Tiny Powerhouse for Health?
• How to Grow Flax Plant: Cultivation Steps for Flaxseeds
  • Field Preparation
  • Soil & Climate
  • Variety Selection
  • Planting 
  • Irrigation
  • Weed Management
  • Disease Management
  • Harvesting 

Flaxseed Cultivation in India

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an important oilseed crop with its cultivation dating back over 60 centuries, making it one of the oldest crops grown by human civilization. For thousands of years, it has been cultivated in India for its fibrous stems and oil-rich seeds. Generally, ‘flax’ signifies when the crop is cultivated for fibre. For oil purposes, it is termed ‘linseed’. If it is cultivated for both fibre and oil, it is known as ‘dual-purpose flax’. Some of the other common names in India are Tisi, Alsi, Jawas and Pesi.

The key linseed-growing states are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. In 2018, the total area under linseed cultivation was 3.84 lakh hectares, while the total production stood at 1.54 lakh tonnes. Flaxseeds have become a viral phenomenon globally because of their various nutritional and health benefits. It is a rich source of fibre, lignans and omega-3 fatty acids. Also, the flax seeds tree provides flax that has key uses in making durable textiles. Overall, flaxseed cultivation has great potential in India due to its high economic value, nutritional benefits and low-input needs.

Nutritional Profile of Flaxseeds

The oil content of flaxseeds ranges between 33%-47%. Of the total oil produced, around 80% is used in industries in various forms like urethane oil, aluminates oil, boiled oil and borated oil. Linseed oil is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (55%) and protein (36%). The nutritional composition of edible flaxseed (per 100g) is as follows:

Why Flaxseeds are Considered a Tiny Powerhouse for Health?

Even though flaxseeds are small in size, they are highly nutrient-dense with rich fibre, lignans and omega-3 fatty acids content. Flaxseeds have high carbohydrate content in the form of fibre. Soluble fibre can help in managing blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Also, it promotes good bacteria in the gut to help the digestive system. Flaxseeds are a suitable alternative to laxatives as they contain insoluble fibre. Its consumption may improve bowel regularity and lower the risk of diabetes.

Arginine and glutamine are key amino acids present in flaxseeds. They have the ability to benefit heart health and the overall immune system. Also, linseed oil is good for the heart, being an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Omega-3 fatty acids are also linked to inhibiting the growth of certain types of cancers. Lignans are known to stop the growth of new blood vessels.

Lignans and linseed ALA can limit the production of pro-inflammatory molecules and thus offer anti-inflammatory qualities. Also, flaxseeds can ensure healthy hair due to the presence of Vitamin E. It not only facilitates healthy growth but also prevents hair loss. Improved skin and hair health can be attributed to the antioxidant lignans.

Fibre-rich flaxseeds can help keep the bowel healthy, along with supporting healthy weight management. Their consumption can stimulate the digestive tract. Also, they may induce the feeling of a full stomach and thus reduce cravings. All these factors can aid in weight management.

Flaxseeds, in the form of oil, seeds and capsules, can help reduce joint pain. A daily diet featuring suitable amounts of flaxseeds can improve overall health as it can fulfil daily protein requirements. It can improve the health of hair, skin, cartilage, muscles and bones.

How to Grow Flax Plant: Cultivation Steps for Flaxseeds

Below are the important steps involved in the successful cultivation of flaxseeds in India:

Field Preparation

Bring the land to a fine tilth by ploughing it 2-3 times, and 2-3 harrowing needs to be done. After every good rain shower, a hoe can be used to form soil mulch for conserving moisture.

Soil & Climate

Flaxseed plants grow well in sandy loam or silty clay loam soils with adequate drainage. The ideal pH range for flaxseed cultivation is 5.5-7. Dual-purpose linseed demands a cool, humid climate to obtain better fibre yield. Mild temperatures in the range of 10ºC - 27ºC are best for growing flaxseeds. Flaxseed cultivation requires a 155-200 mm rainfall, and the midday humidity should be between 60-65% in the growing season. Conditions like 32ºC temperature during flowering and drought are observed to reduce the overall yield.

Variety Selection

It is important to select the correct crop variety and quality seeds to ensure high yield. Some of the popular flaxseed varieties are:

Planting

First, seeds need to be treated with Bavistin/Thiram @ 2.5 g/kg of seed. It provides protection against soil-borne and seed-borne diseases. The recommended sowing time is the first fortnight of October. It ensures the ambient temperature does not become very low. Seeds are sown in rows at 40 kg/ha, and the ideal row-to-row spacing is around 23 cm. The proper sowing depth is noted to be 2-3 cm.

Irrigation

After 35 days of sowing, the first irrigation needs to be done. The second irrigation is recommended after around 65 days of sowing. Thus, a minimum of 2 irrigations is best suited for a good harvest of dual-purpose linseed. If required, a third irrigation can be administered when the flowering has completed.

Weed Management

During the initial stages, the alsi seeds plant grows slowly and competes with mixed weed flora. Between 35 and 60 days of sowing, it needs to be kept weed-free. Weed populations can be managed through two-hand weedings. It needs to be done after 4 and 7 weeks of sowing. Herbicides like Pendimethalin, Isoproturon and Clodinafop-propargyl can be sprayed to control weeds chemically. Also, a knapsack sprayer with a flat fan nozzle is used to spray these chemicals.

Disease Management

Rust is a common disease infecting the flax crop that can be observed by bright orange and powdery pustules. Rust pustules form on stems, bolls and leaves. The control methods include the use of resistant varieties. Another method is spraying 0.25% dithane Z-78 or Indofil M-45.

Another key disease that plagues flaxseeds is wilt. Linseed seedlings can die early after the onset of emergence. If there are delayed infections, the leaves turn yellow and wilt first and then turn brown and die. This disease can be managed by seed treatment with Bavistin/Thiram @ 2.5-3 g per kg of seed before sowing.

Powdery mildew causes small spots on leaves that turn into a white powdery mass. Finally, the infected leaves are observed to dry up, wither and die. Along with the use of resistant varieties, Sulfex 0.25% can be sprayed in infected areas to manage this disease.

Harvesting

Harvesting of the flaxseed crop must be done at an ideal stage. When the stem enters the yellow ripe stage, the crop is ready to be harvested. Also, ensure the defoliation of the lower 2/3^rd part of the stem. It will allow better seed quality and lower fibre loss. Due to delayed harvesting, lignification can hamper the fibre quality. The crop should be harvested from the ground level.

Deseeding involves making small bundles of the harvested flaxseed crop. Mallet (Mungari) can be used to thresh out seeds. Another method is to beat the crop against a hard surface. The cutting of plant stalks is done to ensure their height between the ground level and the first fruiting branch.

Retting is done via water immersion to induce partial rotting. It separates the embedded fibre from the stems of linseeds. Scutching is used to beat and scrape the dried stems that separate the fibres. It can be done manually by hand or with machinery. Hackling is done to produce line fibre by removing short fibres.

Flaxseed cultivation offers a huge potential for income generation with sales from both seeds and fibre. Due to the nutritional and health benefits, the demand for flaxseeds is on the rise in urban regions. Follow the cultivation steps discussed in this article and ensure successful flaxseed cultivation for high yields.