Biofuels Cropping Systems Research and Extension Progress Report
January, 2008
- Download the complete report (pdf)
More than twenty WSU and USDA scientists located across Washington State have begun to evaluate numerous alternative crops that could feed biofuel production in the state. The project is evaluating crop adaptation and productivity in four major growing regions of Washington – eastern WA (high rainfall, and low to intermediate rainfall), central irrigated WA, and western WA. A primary challenge will be to compatibly fit these alternative crops into the predominant crop rotations of each region.
Improving economically and environmentally sustainable yield productivity and stability of these biofuel crops are principal goals. Further potential for developing value added bioproducts such as animal feed, fiber products, and biopesticides will improve the economic viability of these crops. The information gained from the multiple research projects will provide valuable insight to producers who are interested in growing biofuel crops but have not had relevant agronomic data from Washington available to support their efforts.
In the two rainfall zones of eastern Washington, canola, mustard and camelina are major oilseed crops being studied. Seed germination and seedling establishment in dry soils, crop winter hardiness and frost tolerance, disease and insect susceptibility, and drought stress tolerance are among the regional challenges for integrated management, variety selection and improvement. Other oilseed candidates include sunflower, flax, linola, safflower and lupine. Integration of these crops into the wheat-barley-legume and wheat-fallow rotations of eastern Washington will be a major factor in the success of any of the oilseeds. Researchers will also be defining unique fertility requirements, disease and weed pressures, and weed control options in this dryland region.
Irrigation water in the basins of central Washington reduces problems in crop establishment, but significant adoption of these oilseed crops is still dependent on their economic competitiveness with other high value crops that can be grown in the region. Researchers are defining fertilizer and irrigation management requirements and productivity of canola, camelina, sunflower, flax, safflower and soybean. Peanuts are another potentially viable biofuel crop being introduced into this region. Weed scientists will be conducting herbicide tolerance studies and oil composition analysis for these crops produced in central Washington as well as the other regions involved in the project.
In western Washington, research will focus on the organic production of canola, as well as basic agronomic production requirements for oilseed crops in this region. While there won’t likely be a premium for organic biodiesel, the organic canola meal will be in high demand with organic dairy producers. Another objective for this region will be ensuring that any increase in acreage will not jeopardize the integrity of the brassica seed production in the region.
Oilseed to biodiesel is the near term focus of this project, but cellulose to ethanol is on the horizon, and alternative crops to meet this future need are also being investigated. In the Columbia Basin, switchgrass and giant reed production and cultural requirements are being investigated. Both of these plants offer tremendous biomass production potential. Other perennial bunch grasses are being grown at the USDA Plant Materials Center. Crop straw residues from perennial and annual wheats will potentially provide cellulosic biomass sources, and are being evaluated in companion studies. The challenge will be to judiciously harvest straw while ensuring that soil quality is sustained.
Bottom-line farm economics of these alternative crops are a critical factor in grower adoption of oilseed production. The economic and research findings will be conveyed to growers, biofuel industry and government agencies via field tours, workshops, and extension materials. Sustained research and extension efforts should give us a good opportunity to evaluate the feasibility of meeting some of our growing fuel needs with Washington grown crops.
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