Camelina: Planting Date and Method Impacts On Stands and Seed Yield In Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

There has been renewed interest in camelina (Camelina sativa L.) in recent years due to the unique fatty acid composition of the seed oil for human and animal consumption and, more importantly, the value of the seed oil to provide “green energy” to fuel commercial and military aircraft. Camelina planting date and method experiments were conducted for three years at four unique rainfed agro-environments in the Pacific Northwest. Average annual precipitation during the three years at the four sites was: Lind, WA, 228 mm; Pendleton, OR, 421 mm; Moscow, ID (one year only), 760 mm; and Corvallis, OR, 993 mm. Camelina was planted on numerous dates from early October to April at a rate of 5.6 kg/ha by either direct drilling seed at a shallow depth into the standing stubble of the previous crop or broadcasting seed and harrowing in one pass into standing stubble. The best stands (measured in April) were achieved with the later plantings because, although camelina has excellent cold hardiness, some plants were lost during winter. Both direct drill and broadcast methods were suitable, although stands from broadcasting in the spring were diminished when rain did not occur for several weeks after planting. Four different planting date yield responses occurred: No yield differences at Lind; increased yield with later planting dates at Pendleton; reduced yield with later plantings at Moscow (one year data) and; a curvilinear response at Corvallis with the lowest yields in early fall and after March 1 and greatest yields from late fall – mid winter plantings. Seed yields ranged from < 100 kg/ha during an extreme drought year at Lind to 2900 kg/ha at Moscow. Results show the continued need for agronomic research to develop and promote this promising crop in the Pacific Northwest.