Camelina sativa Growth with Limited Irrigation.

Limitations on water for crops, due to drought and regulations decreasing irrigation allocations, created the need for lower water use crops. Field trials were conducted in the Nebraska Panhandle limiting irrigation to determine effect on plant growth and seed yield of spring camelina cv. Cheyenne, an oil seed crop with potential for bio-diesel production. Trials were conducted at Scottsbluff and Sidney in 2007. Four irrigation schemes, 0, 10, 20, and 30 cm, were applied, with supplement rainfall, and replicated three-fold. Plant growth was measured at 4½, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks after planting (WAP) at Scottsbluff and 4½, 6, 9, and 12 WAP at Sidney. Canopy height peaked 8 to 9 WAP for all precipitation levels. Canopy fresh weight reached maximum at 9 to 10 WAP. Maximum dry weight was reached at 12 WAP, one week before harvest. Precipitation of 28-30 cm was needed to achieve full vegetative growth. Seed was harvested at 13 WAP. Maximum yield was reached only at Sidney and required 20 cm of irrigation for total precipitation of 42 cm. Measurements of soil moisture content from planting to harvest showed that water was lost until 42 cm precipitation was surpassed, agreeing with the yield data analysis. Irrigation level did not affect seed oil content. Spring camelina seed yields at all the irrigation levels indicated that it may have good potential as a limited water crop, using 7-8 cm less irrigation than spring Brassica napus cv. Hyola 357 Magnum for comparable results.