Effect of Nutrient Supply on the Quality of Linseed and Hempseed

Abstract

Studies on the effect of nutrient supplies on the seed quality of linseed and hemp are important both for improvements in the fertilizer extension service and for the consumer sector. The results of experiments set up on chernozem soil with 64 fertilizer treatments provided information on the relationship between nutrient supplies and seed quality. The data indicated that excessive N supplies reduced the oil content of linseed. The seed protein content increased as the N supplies improved. The P supplies had little influence on the oil and protein contents. The fatty acid composition of linseed was influenced to a greater extent by the year than by the nutrient supplies. The N supplies only caused a change in the amino acid composition of linseed when there was a substantial increase in the protein content. The effect of P supplies on the amino acid composition depended on the year. N and P fertilization had no effect on the oil content of hempseeds. Better N supplies increased the protein content and the total quantity of amino acids, but had no influence on the ratio of essential to non-essential amino acids. The fatty acid composition of hempseed was not affected by the N and P supplies.

Key Words:

• Linseed
• hempseed
• oil content
• protein content
• fatty acid
• amino acid