The effect of flax seeding rate, crop placement, and N rate on the development and yield of chickpea and flax
a) To develop an agronomic system for intercropping chickpea with flax in Saskatchewan
b) To determine if the area of adaptation for chickpeas can be expanded by utilizing an intercrop with flax
c) To determine if intercropping can be used to reduce disease pressure in chickpeas
d) To increase the production of flax in western Canada
e) To improve the agronomic performance of flax
Results indicate that flax seeding rate is the factor with the largest impact on grain yield and economic returns when intercropping chickpea and flax. The impact of crop placement and nitrogen fertilizer varied among the site years. There was a major reduction in percent green seed in the harvested chickpea when the chickpea is grown in an intercrop with flax compared to a monocrop. This intercrop only faltered when dry conditions that hastened flax maturity were followed by wet conditions that encourage renewed vegetative growth in the chickpeas. In conclusion, intercropping chickpea and flax increases the stability of grain yield and economic returns to producers when growing chickpea and/or flax.
- Flax Seeding Rate is the Driver
- Stability of economic returns is the greatest advantage
- Proven that it works in areas adapted and semi- adapted to chickpeas
- Lack of wet environmental conditions Indicates that we need more information to determine if any areas are too wet for this intercrop. It does well at Redvers and Melfort.
- The economic returns from this crop are very competitive
- Demonstrations at the field scale will continue at Indian Head
Producer Tips
- Use full chickpea seeding rate
- Place Seed at 1 inch or a little deeper if dry (favour chickpea)
- Flax seeding rate start at 20 lbs/acre
- You can lower seeding rate if needed as you gain experience
- Only failure was late rain after dry conditions
- flax matured while chickpea regreened