Optimising flax production in the South Atlantic region of the USA

Worldwide the USA is the largest user of flax fibre, though very little is actually grown or produced in the USA. Ariane flax was grown in 1990-1991, 1991-1992 and 1998-1999 in South Carolina, USA and evaluated for production characteristics. Plots (15 m long and 2 m wide) in the fall of 1990 and 1991 generated dry matter plant yields ranging from 4510 (early harvest at a seeding rate of 67 kg ha^-1) to 7340 (late harvest at a seeding rate of 134 kg ha^-1) kg ha^-1. Based on these results, seed was sown on a private farm using a drill in 19 cm rows at a seeding rate of 101 kg ha^-1 in 1998-1999. Early harvest, selected for optimal fibre quality, produced a dry matter plant yield that averaged 4076 kg ha^-1. Late harvest, selected to optimise seed plus fibre, produced a dry matter plant yield that averaged 5076 kg ha^-1. Stubble remaining in the field after mowing at about 6.0-7.6 cm above the soil surface resulted in a fibre loss of about 3% of total plant dry matter or 10% of potential total fibre yield. Dry matter and fibre yields suggested that flax could be produced in the southeastern USA using traditional farming methods for the area.