Flax

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a cool‑season annual broadleaf that establishes fast, makes a fine, fibrous root system with a modest taproot, and fits neatly into short windows in northern and western rotations. Growers choose flax as a cover crop to add broadleaf diversity in mixes, protect soil, help relieve surface compaction, and because it tolerates dry spells better once established than many other cool‑season covers. (NDSU Extension “Flax Production in North Dakota”; UW–Extension Crops & Soils: Flax; USDA NRCS Iowa Cover Crop Fact Sheets – Flax). (ndsu.edu, cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu, nrcs.usda.gov)

Benefits of Flax as a Cover Crop

• Erosion Control: Dense, living cover and residue reduce raindrop impact and runoff. Across studies of cover crops, average annual loss of soil carbon via erosion dropped 68%, and soil loss itself has been cut as much as 50–75% compared with bare fallow; small‑grain analogs like oats have shown 62–85% reductions in soil loss in trials. Expect flax to contribute similarly when it provides adequate cover as part of a mix or quick solo stand. (Iowa State Univ. news on Global Change Biology meta‑analysis; farmdoc daily review of cover crop erosion data; Univ. of Hawaii runoff/soil‑loss trial; USDA Climate Hubs). (news.iastate.edu, farmdocdaily.illinois.edu, ctahr.hawaii.edu, climatehubs.usda.gov)
• Weed Suppression: A rapid canopy and residue help shade soil; cover‑crop mulches can reduce weed emergence by 75–90% when enough biomass is present. Flax is most often used in mixes where its fine stems complement grasses to form a tighter mulch. (UConn IPM; MSU Extension note on biomass and suppression). (ipm.cahnr.uconn.edu, canr.msu.edu)
• Soil Structure Improvement: Flax develops a taproot with laterals that can reach near 40 inches in favorable conditions, creating channels that aid aggregation and relieve shallow compaction. In recent field research, cover crops doubled saturated hydraulic conductivity (2× higher Ksat) and increased macroporosity up to 306% vs. no cover, improving trafficability and infiltration. (NDSU Extension; Soil Use & Management, 2023). (ndsu.edu, ui.adsabs.harvard.edu)
• Water Management: Cover crops increase infiltration and reduce overland flow; recent reviews and trials report runoff reductions of 23–77% and total water discharge reductions of ~44% in some systems, with cover‑cropped soils retaining more water in surface layers during dry periods. Flax tolerates dry weather better after early establishment than many cool‑season broadleaves. (UC ANR Cover Crop Benefits; UW–Extension, Crops & Soils: Flax; UW–Extension Ag Water). (ucanr.edu, cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu, agwater.extension.wisc.edu)
• Disease/Pest Break: Broadleaf diversity helps interrupt small‑grain disease cycles; in Minnesota/North Dakota studies, wheat following flax yielded 15% more than continuous wheat. Flax is a comparatively low‑risk host for Sclerotinia in some rotations—no sclerotia were produced in irrigated ND trials—making it a useful “gap” before susceptible crops like canola when timed properly. (UMN Extension: Small grain rotations; NDSU Canola Field Guide note). (extension.umn.edu, ag.ndsu.edu)
• Nitrogen Management: As a non‑legume, flax does not fix N but scavenges residual nitrate; cover crops broadly have been shown to reduce tile‑drain nitrate loads by ~30% at scale, and to lower soil nitrate concentrations in the profile (e.g., −5.8 mg kg⁻¹ at 20–30 cm) where biomass develops. Typical non‑legume residues commonly contain on the order of 20–50 lb N/ac in above‑ground biomass—actual flax uptake will track its biomass. (Univ. of Illinois news on statewide modeling; USDA‑NIFA CRIS Nebraska report; SARE Managing Cover Crops Profitably). (aces.illinois.edu, portal.nifa.usda.gov, sare.org)
• Biomass Production: Flax is a moderate biomass producer that shines in mixes and short, warm windows. In a spring‑planted rye/oat/flax mix in Minnesota, >1,500 lb/ac of biomass was achieved by early June, while fall‑planted mixes commonly left 500–1,000 lb/ac by spring; monoculture flax will vary by window and moisture and generally produces less biomass than small‑grain covers. (UMN Extension Crop News, 2025). (blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu)

Planting and Management Advice

• Seeding Rate (drill and broadcast):
• Drill: 25–45 lb/ac in the northern Plains (seed size dependent), with many cover‑crop guides listing 30–50 lb/ac for mid‑summer windows. (NDSU Extension; UMN Extension “Getting started with cover crops” table). (ndsu.edu, extension.umn.edu)
• Broadcast: Increase flax rates by 15–25% over drill rates to offset poorer seed‑soil contact; for the drill ranges above, that’s roughly 30–60+ lb/ac when broadcasting. (Iowa State Univ. ICM Blog and SDSU Extension). (crops.extension.iastate.edu, extension.sdstate.edu)
• Seeding Depth: Place seed 0.5–1.5 inches deep in a firm, moist seedbed; avoid deep planting because flax seedlings struggle through crusting. (UW–Madison Agronomy “Flax” page; NDSU Extension). (corn.agronomy.wisc.edu, ndsu.edu)
• Soil Type and pH: Best on well‑drained loams to fine‑textured soils used for wheat/barley; avoid poorly drained and saline sites. Maintain pH ~6.0–6.5 (lime if needed for this range). (NDSU Extension; UW–Madison Agronomy “Flax”). (ndsu.edu, corn.agronomy.wisc.edu)
• Planting Time (seasonal windows by region):
• Upper Midwest/Northern Plains:
• Early spring as soon as fields are fit (late April–early May in ND) for a quick, cool‑season cover; or
• Short summer window after small grains, roughly July 10–Sept 1. Flax is not reliably winter‑hardy in the North and will typically winter‑kill. (NDSU Extension; UMN Extension cover‑crop window table). (ndsu.edu, extension.umn.edu)
• Pacific Northwest dryland: Plant early spring for cool‑season growth; flax is used as a rotational broadleaf and fits the region’s direct‑seed systems. (WSU Oilseed Cropping Systems – Flax). (oilseeds.css.wsu.edu)
• Corn Belt/Mid‑Atlantic: Use early spring or a summer window after wheat/oats; when overseeding, aim for late August to early September and time for rain if broadcasting. (Iowa State Univ. ICM Blog; UMN Extension table). (crops.extension.iastate.edu, extension.umn.edu)
• Termination:
• Winter‑kill terminates flax in most northern climates. Where winters are mild, terminate prior to seed set by: (a) herbicide (consult label and your Extension office), (b) mowing and light incorporation, or (c) roller‑crimping at flowering—roller‑crimpers are most reliable on tall cereals, so use caution and verify control on flax. Terminate covers 2–3 weeks before cash‑crop planting if soil moisture recharge and warming are needed. (NC State Extension: Termination Methods & Timing; SARE Managing Cover Crops Profitably). (covercrops.ces.ncsu.edu, sare.org)
• Rotational Considerations:
• Frequency: Do not plant flax more than once every three years on the same field to limit disease carryover. Avoid planting flax immediately after potatoes, canola, or sugarbeets. (NDSU Extension). (ndsu.edu)
• Disease break: Wheat following flax has shown about a 15% yield advantage vs. continuous wheat; flax poses low risk of increasing Sclerotinia in some rotations (no sclerotia in ND irrigated trials), making it a comparatively safe broadleaf before canola. (UMN Extension rotations; NDSU Canola Field Guide). (extension.umn.edu, ag.ndsu.edu)
• Volunteer & herbicides: Watch herbicide carryover limits if you intend to graze or harvest a cover; volunteer flax can be harder to clean up in some broadleaf cash crops. (UMN Extension — considerations for new cover‑crop rotations). (blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu)
• Water Requirements and Drought Tolerance:
• Flax needs moisture for quick emergence but is relatively drought‑tolerant later, and cover‑cropped soils often infiltrate and hold more water—recent work found 2× higher Ksat, +50% total porosity, and higher water content at saturation (mid‑season) under cover crops vs. no cover. (UW–Extension Crops & Soils: Flax; Soil Use & Management, 2023). (cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu, ui.adsabs.harvard.edu)

Notes to maximize success with Flax as a cover:

• Best fit: in mixes (e.g., with oats/rye/pea) to build biomass and mulch density; NRCS rates it “excellent” for fighting soil compaction and “very good” in drought. (USDA NRCS Iowa – Flax fact sheet page). (nrcs.usda.gov)
• Establishment: Drilling gives the most reliable stand at the lowest seed cost; increase rates 15–25% when broadcasting and try to seed ahead of a rainfall for dependable emergence. (Iowa State Univ. ICM Blog). (crops.extension.iastate.edu)

This guidance emphasizes practical, numbers‑based targets from U.S. university extension, USDA/NRCS, SARE and recent peer‑reviewed research so you can confidently deploy flax alone or—often best—as part of a multi‑species cover.