Agronomics of Alternative Biofuel Crops; Organic Canola Trials
Project Investigators: Tim Miller, WSU; Craig Cooger, WSU
January, 2008 Progress Report
What is known:
Production of oilseed crops in western Washington has historically been very limited. Recent research has shown canola and mustard to be viable crops, but widely varying yields confirm the need for further investigation of basic agronomic information for these and other potential biofuel crops. There is high demand for organic canola meal for the dairy industry in Washington, and it is currently all imported. The opportunity for value-added canola production as well as reduced feed costs for Washington dairies from using in-state supplies of both organically and conventionally produced canola meal could be significant.
What is not known:
We do not know if other oilseed crops such as camelina, flax, sunflower, and fall-seeded safflower can be successfully produced in western Washington. Optimum planting date, seeding rate, fertilizer and herbicide needs for canola, mustard, and the aforementioned biofuel crops also have not been determined for western Washington.
Current research and preliminary observations:
We planted canola on one date in early October 2007 at WSU Puyallup REC on certified organic ground. This is a preliminary trial evaluating response of fall seeded ‘Athena’ winter canola to organic fertilizer. Treatments include 1) 200 lb organic N (shrimp meal) applied at planting, 2) 67 lb organic N applied at planting with 133 lb to be topdressed in the spring, and 3) 0 lb N applied at planting with 200 lb organic N to be topdressed in the spring. All plots were hand seeded, and emergence appeared to be good, although the stands were uneven. The 200 lb fall N application had the poorest stands going into the winter. Four planting dates for a single variety of spring canola (bi-weekly beginning in April of 2008) will also be tested at Puyallup in 2008.
Five seed lines of safflower were tested in spring of 2007 at WSU Mount Vernon NWREC. All five lines grew well and produced flowers, but no seed was produced. These same five lines were planted in fall of 2007 to test for their winter-hardiness and to see if this results in plants flowering earlier in 2008 and producing harvestable seed.
We will plant four spring canola lines in Snohomish county (near Monroe), as well as camelina, flax and sunflower at WSU Mount Vernon to test viability of producing these crops in western WA. Camelina testing at these two locations will also include herbicide screening in cooperation with Joe Yenish and Ian Burke at Pullman.
Heading using the h3tag
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