American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 12 (8): 1075-1080, 2012 ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejaes.2012.12.08.1852 Corresponding Author: B.A. Bakry, Department of Field Crop Research, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. 1075 Yield and Yield Components of Three Flax Cultivars ( Linum usitatissimum L.) In Response to Foliar Application with Zn, Mn and Fe under Newly Reclaimed Sandy Soil Conditions B.A. Bakry, M.M. Tawfik, B.B. Mekki and M.S. Zeidan Department of Field Crop Research, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt Abstract: Two field experiments were conducted at the Research and Production Station, National Research Centre, El-Nubaria Province, El-Behira Governorate, Egypt, during the two successive winter seasons of 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 to study the response of yield and yield components of three flax cultivars (Giza 8, Olin and Amon) to foliar application with Zn, Mn and Fe. The results revealed high significant differences among the flax genotypes in yield and its components. Giza 8 cultivar surpassed Olin and Amon cultivars in the characters of plant height (cm), technical length(cm), 1000-seed weight (g), straw yield (t/ha), fiber % and fiber yield (t/ha), while Olin cultivars produced the highest values of seed yield/ plant (g). On the other hand, Amon cultivar surpassed the other two cultivars in fruiting zone length (cm), number of branches/plant, number of capsules/plant, straw yield/plant (g), seed yield (t/ha), harvest index, oil % and oil yield (t/ha). Foliar application with Zn, Mn or Fe positively affected all the studied characters compared with control treatment with superiority to Zn over the other micronutrients. Yet, the combined application of three micronutrients was to some extent, much more effective. Yield and yield attributes and also seed oil % are significantly affected by the interaction between cultivars and foliar application with Zn, Mn and Fe. Therefore, it can be concluded that, the foliar application of Zn, Mn and Fe had positive effect on oil and fiber yields of flax plants. In general the flax cultivars were significantly different in their seed and oil yields due to application of these micronutrients as combined treatment. The highest seed and oil yields (1.574 and 0.637 t/ha, respectively) were recorded in Amon cultivar received Zn+ Mn+Fe as one treatment, while Giza 8 cultivar produced the highest fiber yield (1.289 t/ha) under the same foliar application treatment. Key words: Flax cultivars Foliar application Zn Mn and Fe Growth Yield and yield attributes INTRODUCTION well-known ordinary uses, the crop has more benefits in Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an old economic moreover in producing some kinds of compact wood, crop grown as a dual purpose crop for seeds and fibers popular in name particle board. The crop is also popular which is used for the manufacture of linen. The oil is in several fine industries in which making electric edible and also, due to its quick dyeing properly is used insulations and non-textile medical materials are the most for the preparation of paints, varnishes, printing ink, oil important. More valuable is that related to producing cloth and soap. In Egypt, flax plays an important role bank note papers. Flax cultivars significantly differed in the national economy owing to export beside local in yield and its attributes as well as oil content [2, 3]. In industry. Increasing the production of flax could be this concern, Sharief [4] reported that Liflora cultivar achieved through growing high yielding genotypes and surpassed other four cultivars in plant height, technical proper fertilizer application. Flax is the second fiber crop length, 1000-seed weight and straw yield. Moreover, after cotton in Egypt with regard to the cultivated area Sharief et al. [5] stated that Giza 8 cv. surpassed Blanka in and economic importance [1]. Nowadays, the benefits number of fruit branches/plant, number of capsules/plant, of flax have passed all expectations. Regardless the 1000-seed weight, weight of seeds/plant as well as seed producing feeding stuff for animals and poultry and