EFFECT OF RETTING METHODS ON SOME FIBER QUALITY CHARACTERS FOR SOME LOCAL AND IMPORTED FLAX CULTIVARS.

EFFECT OF RETTING METHODS ON SOME FIBER QUALITY CHARACTERS FOR SOME LOCAL AND IMPORTED FLAX CULTIVARS.

Salem, M.Sh.A.¹ ;A.M.Mesbah¹ ; A. Moussa² and A. B.A.Assar²

1-Agron.Dept.Fac.of Agric.Al-Azhar Univ.Egypt.

2-Fiber Crops Res. Dept. Field Crops. Res. Institut, ARC. Giza Egypt.

ABSTRACT

This research was conducted to study the effect of retting water change time, i.e. control as still water and every 24, 48 and 72 hr, beside that the impact of retting water temperature degrees variable, i.e. control as normal temperature degree, 28, 32 and 37 ^oC on some fiber characters for 3 flax local varieties (Giza 10 , Sakha 3 and Sakha 4) and three flax imported ones (Omena , Melano and Sezar), during winter seasons of 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 at EL-Gemmeiza Agric. Res. Station, EL Gharbia Governorate, Middle Delta region, ARC. Egypt. These treatments were arranged in split plot design with three replications.The results showed that, the imported varieties had given better fiber yield/fed. than the local ones, i.e. where Omena and Milano Cv attained the goal during the two successive seasons. On the other hand.Sezar as imported flax variety pronounced its superiority and scored the highest values for fiber percentage and fineness, whereas Melano imported Cv gave the tallest fiber comparing with the others . Tested local varieties, Sakha 3 or Sakha 4 and Giza 10 registered low values for the studied fiber properties under the change of retting water every 24,48 and 72 hours. 

As for retting water temperature degree variable, the highest average for fiber % and fineness associated with Sezar CV. also, Melano imported CV. recorded the tallest fiber, as experiencing with the other studied local varieties. With   respect to the optimum temperature , it was 37^oC for retting warm water to produce the best fiber quality traits.

Eventually, most of the studied properties were affected significantly by the interaction between the studied treatments i.e. retting water temperature degree and retting water change time/h and genotypes.

INTERODUCTION

Flax (Linumusitatissimum L.) is an annual plant belongs to the familylinaceae grown in some countries for seeds, whereas in others for fiber. In Egypt, it is one of the oldest crops cultivated as a dual purpose crop for its fiber and seed. The fibers are used in textile as well as automobile and construction industries , while flax seeds are used in human food as source of Omega-3- fatty acids and animal feed. Linseed oil is used in the production of paint, soap, putty and polymers. Nowadays, flax can be considered as a fiber crop with numerous utilization in industry with lower waste.

The evaluation of flax genotypes under different treatments is very important from the print of view agronomists to identify the best genotypic to be tested under the proper treatments. 

Several researchers recorded significant differences in yield and quality for local and introduced flax varieties such as Giza8 ,Sakha 1 , Sakha 2 as dual purpose type ,while Blenika, Escalina , Milano and Omena are fiber type (Mostafaet al., 2006).

It is necessary to increase flax productivity and quality from the present limit area. This could be achieved by growing best flax varieties characterizes by high yielding ability. Mousa and Hussein (2011) ensured the superiority of Eriena as imported flax var. due to fiber properties as compared with the local ones i. e. Sakha 1 and Giza 9. On the same line, Galo(2017) compared between 3 strains and two local flax varieties, he pointed out that there was significant difference between them due two straw yield/fed. , fiber length, fineness and percentage.

Retting water could be considered a limiting factor through reducing utilized amount of water will maximize the benefits from the available retting water. In this connection, many investigators studied the effect of retting  water as period or temperature degree change  on yield and quality of flax among of them Konczewicz, et al., (2013) observed that warm water retting is performed at temperature around 35 ^oC , this can shorten the retting period to 4 days or 100 hours.PeiyingRuanet al.,(2015) indicated that retting of flax straw by distilled water for duration of six days gave the highest values for fiber strength and fineness comparing with the other intervals. 

Retting process is the most important operation in production of flax or any other fiber crop. As if retting is not carried out successfully  the fiber may be ruined or the quality lowered. It is well known fact that retting cannot improve the fiber but proper retting can ensured that the original properties of the fibers are maintained and not lost. In Egypt there are only three governmental factories concerning with modern technical of flax retting.Whereas many special factories which depend on several old methods, that cannot obtain flax fibers with high uniformity and performance to high commercial trade for exporting to. So it is duty to apply new methods and proper technique for retting to obtain good fibers with high quality and this in turn encourage to introduce high commercial  trade of textile for external world.

The present investigation aims to evaluate two different flax retting methods water period and temperature degree change for some of local and imported flax varieties to decrease water consumption and improve fiber quality characters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two field experiments were carried out at El-Gemmeiza Agric. Res. Station. El-Gharbia Governorate,  Middle Delta region ,ARE, during 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 winter growing seasons to study two retting methods (temperature of retting liquor and the time of changing retting water) on fiber yield and its quality characters for six local and imported flax cultivars i. e. (Giza 10, Sakha 3, Sakha 4, Omena, Milano and Sezar). The origin of the studied materials was as follows:

1-Flax local varieties:-

A-Giza 10: local variety selected by pedigree method from the cross between L.420 X Bombay (Imported from India )

B-Sakha 3: local variety (fiber type) selected by pedigree method from the cross between Belinka (ze) X 1.2596.

C-Sakha 4: local variety (fiber type) selected by pedigree method from the cross between Belinka (r3) X 1.2596.

2-Flax imported varieties:-

D-Omena : It was imported from Holland.

E-Melano : It was imported from Belgium.

F-Sezar : It was imported from Switzerland.

The six tested flax varieties were planted at 28^th and 30^th of October in the first and second seasons, respectively under the recommended agricultural procedures which belonged to that research station. The soil mechanical and chemical analysis of the experimental site are represented in Table1.

Table (1) : Some physical and chemical properties of the used soil in the two growing seasons (0-30 cm) at E.L. Gemmeiza Research Station .

These data are tabulated in table (1) were taken from "Soil Survey Section Soil Research" Institute, Agricultural Research Center.

The studied factors:

I- Six flax cultivars as were previous mention.

II-Retting treatments:

1-a- Control (still water).

       b- Retting water change every 24, 48 and 72 hours.

    2- Retting water temperature as follow :-

a-Control (still water)

b-Retting water temperature degree variable every 28, 32 and  37 ^oC. The first temperature degree associated with cold water  that was carried out during summer season, in open retting tanks. Whereas, the second and third ones were carried out all over the year, in closed tanks.

Split plot design with three replications for that research had been adapted, where the six varieties located the main plots, while retting methods represented the sub-plots. For sowing, after method was applied and the individual plot was 6 m², the No. of seeds was 80 g. for local varieties and 40 g. from plot for the imported ones which resulted in 9400 and 8500 plant /plant,respectively.

Studiedcharacters :-

Fiber yield and its quality characters:

At harvest time ten guarded plants were taken randomly from each sub plot to estimate the following properties:

1-Fiber yield/fed (kg): It was calculated from the weight of yield/plot X 700 to gain fiber yield/fed.

2-Retting period : It was calculated by counting the number of days from retting date up to the end point of it.

3-Fiber fineness (N.m): It was determined using Radwan and Momtazmethod (1966) as follows:

Where:-

   N = number of 20 fibers in m.

   L= length of fiber 10cm.

   G = weight of fibers in mg.

4-Fiber percentage: It was calculated according to this Equation:

    Fiber percentage =

5-fiber length (cm): It was measured randomly as an average of ten  fiber ribbons (bundles) from each subplot.

Statistical analysis :

The data obtained were subjected to the proper statistical analysis as split plot design according to Steel et al., (1997) and the treatment means were compared using L.S.D at 5% level of probability in the two seasons.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

As shown in Table (2) fiber yield /fed.for the imported flax varieties surpassed the local ones during the two seasons.Omena and Melano varieties awarded the greatest fiber yield (678.23and 670.33 Kg/fed)during 2016/2017 and (617.63 and 631.19 Kg/fed) during 2017/2018 season comparing with the other varieties either imported or local .These results may be ought to the genetically difference between the studied varieties as reported by Al Sadek, et al., (2017) and Hamed (2018 ).

Table(2) :- The means of fiber yield (kg/fed) for the six flax varieties under the environmental conditions of El-Gemmeiza. Agric. Res. Station, during 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 season.

Results given in Table 3 show the number of days up to the complete retting flax straw under the normal condition as control and this activation as subjected to water change every 24,48 and 72/hour. As for the imported varieties, Omena var. registered the shortest period up to complete retting (8.15 days) under the normal condition of retting process or as exposing to water change every one ,two and three days (6.94 days),while Sizar var. located the second order , where control treatment extracted the fibers within 8.27 days approx., while retting water change every limited hours had a significant shortage effect (6.92 days) . In general, the local varieties exhibited the longest extracted fiber period/ day either with the retting normal condition (control treatment) or  with water change every the studied period/h.  

Under the circumstances of retting water change at limited periods , the results showed that the shortest time for fiber extraction (6.28 day) associated with water change every 72h , it was followed by water change every 24h (6.92day), with significant difference between them as compared with control treatment. These findings may be due to the variation in retting process and fiber quality may ought to be attributed to numerous uncontrollable conditions, including moisture (rainfall and dew), temperature and activity of the microbial flora as revealed by Evans et al., (2002).

The interaction effect between (Var.xTreat.) on No. of days up to the complete retting process was significant as revealed in Table (3) .It was noticed that, (5.82 day)was the significant shortest time which obtained from Milano var. as exposing to water change every 72h . It was  followed by Sizar var. that represented the second order (5.95 day) under the same condition of retting water change/h. .While Giza10 as local var. had the longest time for retting either with the normal condition or retting under water change every 48 hrs.

Table (3) :The mean Effect of retting water change time per hour on period of retting flax straw during2016/2017 and 2017 /2018 seasons

*Control treatment means the process of normal retting

From Table(4),it was obvious that  the highest fiber % and fineness associated with Sezar and Omena varieties respectively through retting water change from 24 up to 72 Hrs, it was followed by Melanovar,  during 2016/2017 season. Concerning with the local flax varieties under study, Sakha3 var. recorded the highest averages (21.59 and 21.53%) during 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons respectively, while Sakha 4 var. scored the most fineness value (247.88 cm/mg), but this value was depressed by (3.45%) as enduring with Omena var., same trend had been observed during the second season. 

Respecting to, the significant effect of retting water change treatment, change water every 72Hrs awarded the highest fiber% and the most fiber fineness, regarding the studied varieties. As for the interaction between genotypes X treatments, it was cleared that exposing Sezar or Melano or Omena ( imported varieties ) to change retting water every 72 Hrs gave the highest fiber % and obtained the most fiber fineness as tabulated in Tables (4 and 5) during the studied growing seasons.

Table (4) :Effect of  retting  water change time/ hour on  fiber % and fiber fineness(cm/mg)  for the  six flax varieties during 2016/2017 season.

*Without water change or retting with still water

Table(5) :- Effect of retting water change time/hour on fiber % and  fiber fineness for the six flax varieties during 2017/2018 season

*Without water change or retting with still water

The longest fiber (cm) associated with Melano and Omena varieties respectively through retting water change from 24 up to 72 Hrs,  during 2016/2017 seasons.Concerning with the local flax varieties under study, Sakha3 var. recorded the highest average (76.19 and 78.18 cm). during (2016/2017 and 2017/2018) seasons rete tingly , while Sakha 4 var. located the second order. These finding are in harmony with those postulated by El- Borhamy (2003), Abd El-Fattah,  and El-Deeb (2006) and El- Refaey et al.( 2010 ) ,they found that change retting water from time to time / day or hour awarded the highest values for fiber fineness and length . 

 As for the interaction between genotypes X treatments, it was cleared that exposing Melano imported variety to change retting water every 72 Hrs, gave the highest fiber length (cm) as presented in Table(6) , during the studied growing seasons.

Results given in Tables (5 and 6) show effect of retting water temperature impact of the change of retting water temperature. It is clear that the highest fiber % and fineness was associated with Omena and Melano varieties respectively through retting water temperature change from 28 up to 37 ^oC, it was followed by Sezar var.,  during 2016/2017and 2017/2018 seasons.

As for the local flax varieties under study, Sakha 3 var. recorded the highest averages (21.61 and 21.60 %) during 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons reactively. While Sakha4 var. scored the most fineness value (253.17 cm/mg). but this value was depressed by (3.66%). as enduring with the Omena var. in the first studied season, same trend had been observed during the second season. So, it was summarized that change retting water temperature degree from 28 up to 37c did not change from the superiority for the imported varieties (fiber descent) as compared with local ones due to fiber quality parameters under study.

With respect to, the significant effect of retting water temperature treatment, retting at 37 ^oC awarded the highest fiber % and the most fineness, regarding the studied varieties .Kozlowski et al. (2006 ), explained the extraction of fibers from flax straw relies on raising the temperature degree of retting water and degumming allows for obtaining fiber characterized by high quality comparing with the traditional methods .  As for the interaction( genotypes  X treatments), it was cleared that exposing Sezar or Melano or Omena imported varieties to temperature retting water at 37 ^oC gave the highest fiber % and obtained the most fiber fineness, as illustrated in Table (7) during the first season only .These results may be associated with the optimum activity of the analytical microbes as stated by Evans et al., (2002).

Table (6) : Effect of retting water change time / hour on fiber length (cm.). for  the six flax varieties during 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 season.

*Without water change or retting with still water

Table(7) : Effect of  retting water temperature  degree on flax fiber fineness and fiber % for the six flax varieties during 2016/2017 season.

         *Normal temperature degree .

Table (8) : Effect of  retting water temperature  degree on  fiber fineness and fiber % for the six flax varieties during 2017/2018 season.

*Normal temperature degree

Table (9) : Effect of  retting water temperature degree on  fiber length (cm.) for the six flax varieties during 2016/2017and 2017/2018 season .

*Normal temperature degree.