Evaluation of New Oilseed Crops for Biofuel In California.

Corresponding author’s E-mail: srkaffka@ucdavis.edu

To evaluate new winter annual oilseed crops that might be used for biofuel, the yield, oil content, irrigation and fertilizer requirements of Canola (Brassica napus L., B. juncea (L.) Czern)), Camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz)) and Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba L.) were compared in 2009-2010 at two locations in Yolo (UCD) and Fresno (WSREC) counties in California’s central valley. Six varieties of Canola, twelve varieties of Camelina, and three varieties of Meadowfoam were tested. A nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation trial using one cultivar of each species was fertilized at four levels (0, 90, 180, and 270; 0, 45, 90, and 135; 0, 22, 45, and 90 kg/ha for canola, camelina, and meadowfoam, respectively). Plot size was 9 x 1.5 meter. All cultivars and all species matured earlier at WSREC than at UCD, and yields were higher at the UCD than at the WSREC location. Yield of Canola cultivars varied from 840 to 2530 kg/ha at WSREC and from 1970 to 3820 kg/ha at UCD, respectively. Yield of Meadowfoam cultivars ranged from 620 to 770 kg/ha at WSREC and from 950 to 1140 kg/ha at UCD, respectively. Yield of Camelina cultivars ranged from 1920 to 2610 kg/ha at WSREC. Oil content of Canola cultivars varied from 360 g/kg to 446 g/kg at WSREC and from 455 g/kg to 479 g/kg at UCD. Oil content of Camelina cultivars varied from 359 g/kg to 386 g/kg at WSREC. Oil content of Meadowfoam cultivars ranges from 281 g/kg to 283 g/kg at WSREC and from 300 g/kg to 301 g/kg at UCD, respectively. Either Canola or Meadowfoam yield increased with nitrogen level at UCD but there response under more moisture limited conditions at WSREC. Meadowfoam yield increased with supplemental irrigation at WSREC, but irrigation treatment differences at UCD were not meaningful. Camelina yield did not increase with nitrogen level at WSREC. There was no response to Canola and supplemental spring irrigation at WSREC by Canola and Camelina following a winter with above average precipitation.

Key words: Canola, Camelina, Meadowfoam, biofuel, yield, oil content, nitrogen, irrigation