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INVESTIGATOR: Kering, M. K.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA 23803

LIMING AND FLAX YIELD POTENTIAL IN MID-ATLANTIC REGION: PRE-POSITIONING THE STATE FOR ALTERNATIVE FIBER AND GRAIN CROP

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: There is increasing attention to alternative grain and fiber crops to meet emerging textile and food industry demands. Flax is a grain and fiber crop whose residual material has potential application in the bio-energy and building industry. Flax seed and oil has good nutritional qualities and is reported to reduce diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke in humans and improve reproductive performance and weaning weights in animals. Consumption of flax seed- and linseed oil-derived foods may benefit low income communities where diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases are common. Flax fiber produce quality linen and is used to blend low quality fibers. The crop is produced in the northern US and Canada in spring, but in the US southern states where winters are relatively mild, it has been grown as a winter crop. While flax can be grown in spring in mid-latitude east-coast states including the Commonwealth of Virginia, fall planting may be possible because extreme winter temperatures are moderated by Atlantic Ocean currents. Beside additional production period, producing flax in the fall reduces competition for land resource with major crops in spring. As an annual, flax fits in crop rotations and help reduce use of agro-chemicals in Chesapeake Bay water catchment area. Therefore, as the mid-Atlantic region position itself to benefit from expanding new fiber/grain industry, it is important to evaluate performance of flax and its potential to meet existing and future market demands. We intent to carry out field experiments to evaluate growth performance and yield potential of different varieties of flax produced for seed and/or fiber. The project will also evaluate the productivity of the crop at different planting dates and at different planting season (spring/fall production). The project will be able to come up with knowledge on flax varieties with both agronomic and potential for production in the mid-Atlantic region. By identifying flax varieties for production, the project will diversify producer's income base by increasing cropping options and if adopted and produced, it will not only increasing local flax production but will also reduce US flax imports. Availability of locally produced crop, will reduced the cost of flax products for local consumers. This will be an economic benefit to local consumers as food and other industries depended on imported flax and flax products reduce their production cost bu using locally produced resource.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of the project is to evaluate performance of flax in the mid-Atlantic regionThe specific objectivesGrowth and performance as affected by liming amendment, planting season and planting date will be evaluated and specific data to be obtained includeBiomass yield and or fiberSeed yield and qualityOil yield and compositionSee cake yield and quality as animal supplement

APPROACH: Field experiments will be laid out during appropriate seasons and different flax varieties evaluated. Growth and yield performances in limed amended and non-lime amended soils at at different planting dates will be measured. Data will be collected on growth/emergence and survivability during the course of the experiment and final seed and biomass yield at harvest. Quality analysis and other laboratory test will be done at end of the season. Experiential learning for students will be attained during project implementation and data collection and analysis. Similarly, professional training for the post-doctoral fellow will occur during the course of the project life.Virginia State University has a successful extension and outreach program and holds several field days per year at the University Research and Demonstration Farm. During such events, producers and other interested stakeholders will learn about the project goals, current results and long term outcomes. During such field-days and field tours, experimental plots may acts as demonstrations site for outdoor learning about the crop and its production management approaches. At the conclusion of the project a comprehensive report will be availed to stakeholder and policy makers, fiber and food industry participants as well the VSU website. In addition, project findings will be presented during conferences like ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual International Meetings and the 1890 Institutions Association of Research Directors (ARD) Meetings. Manuscript will also be prepared and published in peer-refereed Journals for access by the wider scientific community.

PROGRESS: 2020/04 TO 2021/03
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems:A no-cost extension was sought and granted to continue the project to March of 2022. The request was necessary due to COVID-19 pandemic that interfered with the successful implementation of the project in 2020.. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The postdoctoral fellow continues to work on the project, processing data, and gaining insight on agronomic studies on flax, flax products, and their uses. . How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are hoping to be able to have the crops planted this spring and also in the fall of 2021. The crops will be harvested, grain yield and biomass will be determined, and asoocisated analysis will be done.

IMPACT: 2020/04 TO 2021/03
What was accomplished under these goals? Due to complication caused by COVID-19 and the University shutdown, the spring crop was not established in 2020. However, fall planted crop is on-going at this time. Crop harvest wll be done in late spring-early summer and processed for yield components.

PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2020/04 TO 2021/03
No publications reported this period.