Linseed or the Flax Plant, as it sis commonly called, is a small, single-stemmed annual that grows to about 2 ft high

Linseed is cultivated in many places including Europe, South America, Asia, and parts of the United States.

Linseed growing states in India are Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order: Linales
• Family: Linaceae
• Genus: Linum
• Species: usitatissimum

• Linseed oil is used in the paint industry, medicines and as an edible oil
• Linseed seeds are used as food.
• Linseed-cake is a very good manure and animal feed.
• Linseed is used in making paper and plastics.

Linseed is purely a cool season Rabi crop.

The minimum temperature regime is 10°C while the maximum is 38°C.

The main season for sowing Linseed is from October to November depending upon the availability of soil moisture.

An annual rainfall of 700 to 750 mm is optimum.

Under dry climates irrigation is essential.

Linseed is grown best in well drained, fertile, medium and heavy soils especially silty loam, clay loam and silty clays.

• The major challenges involve Biotic and Abiotic causes.
• Biotic Causes:
  • Major Pests: Gall-Midge, Armyworm, Jassids, White Fly and Stink Bug.
  • Major Diseases: Rust, Wilt, Powdery Mildew, Anthracnose and Damping off.
• Abiotic Causes:
  • : Heat and Frost Canker
  • Herbicide Injury
  • Chlorosis
  • Top-Die Back.