Nutrient and Water Use Efficiency of Oilseed Crops
Project Investigators: An N. Hang, WSU; Harold P. Collins, ARS; Scot Hulbert, WSU
January, 2008 Progress Report
What is known:
The irrigated areas of central Washington have the potential for a wide variety of oilseed crops due to the ability to provide fertilizer and water on a timely basis. We have conducted biofuel variety trials at Paterson, WA since 2004, focusing on spring-seeded oilseed crops the past few seasons. Oilseed crops included in our trials are camelina, crambe, canola, mustard, safflower, soybean and sunflower. Initial testing has shown winter canola will produce about 4000 to 6000 lbs seed /acre with a concentration of 43 to 45 % oil, safflower will also produced high seed yield with 40% oil (3000 to 6000 lbs/acre). Winter canola and safflower can produce from 1700 to 2500 lbs oil per acre if grown on loam soil with adequate water and nutrients. Spring canola yield varies with weather conditions. High heat during summer reduced spring canola pod fill and yield (1200 to 1800 lbs/acre of 38 to 40 % oil or 400 to 700 lbs oil per acre). Camelina produces well between 2000 to 3000 lbs/acre (35% oil) in 80 days or 700 to 1040 lbs oil per acre. Soybean yielded well in Washington, 3000 to 4000 lbs/acre containing 20% oil per acre (600 to 800 lbs oil per acre). Mustard can be grown for biofuel feedstock as spring canola but mustard has much lower oil than spring canola, averaging 25%. Crambe produced low yield and low oil concentration among all the oil producing crops tested.
What is not known:
- Information on planting date that minimizes summer heat to improve pod fill and development of spring canola is not available.
- Critical temperature for spring canola flowering.
- Critical temperature for seed germination of winter canola.
- Impacts of GMO canola
- Seeding rate of large and small seeded canola
- Camelina response to fertilizer, irrigation and its impact on other crops in rotation.
- Doubling cropping of camelina; fertilization, weed and increased pest problems.
- Safflower response to N fertilizer and its impact to the oil concentration and oil quality.
- Long-term rotational benefits of oilseed crops to high value vegetable crops in irrigated central Washington.
- Response of canola vs. rapeseed (high erucic acid variety) to variations in climate and influence on soil microbial communities.
Current research and preliminary observations:
Four new winter canola varieties were planted along with 2 existing varieties in a randomized complete block design with four replications at Othello, WA. A second variety comparison trial was established in fall 2007 at Othello patterned after the canola variety trials in regions 1 and 2. Camelina will be planted early in the spring with a second seeding of camelina soon after harvest of the first crop to evaluate the potential of double cropping. Camelina response to irrigation is unknown, research is needed to obtain optimum water requirements for growers in Washington. Variable rates of water will be applied to plantings this spring in Prosser, WA. Safflower will be seeded in a randomized complete block design with various rates of N and irrigation to generate a response curve of safflower yield and seed quality.
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