Field germination and plant density before harvesting of fiber flax varieties, depending on soil and meteorological conditions

The article presents experimental data of scientific research for 2023-2024 to identify the influence of soil and meteorological conditions of cultivation on field germination of seeds, survival during vegetation and the density of standing of flax varieties before harvesting. During the years of testing of flax varieties, a very low and average humus content, high and elevated mobile phosphorus, medium and very high mobile potassium were found in the arable soil layer of sod-medium podzolic medium loamy soil of the Middle Urals, acidic and slightly acidic reaction of the soil solution was noted. In the growing seasons of 2023 and 2024, which differ in meteorological conditions, it was revealed that the field germination of seeds, survival during the growing season and the density of long flax plants before harvesting depended on both varietal characteristics and abiotic conditions of the year of cultivation. The highest values of field germination (78%) and the number of plants to harvest (1359 pcs/m2) were provided by the standard Chance variety, the lowest (58% and 1033 pcs/m2, respectively) by the Impulse variety. It was found that the density of standing plants before harvesting depended by 71% on field germination and by 47% on the survival rate of plants during the growing season. Keywords: FIBER FLAX, VARIETY, SOIL AND METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, FIELD GERMINATION, SURVIVAL RATE DURING VEGETATION, PLANTS BEFORE HARVESTING