Cool Season Oilseed Crops for Texas.

Establishing significant biodiesel production in the United States has important national security implications and will provide substantial positive trade, economic, and environmental benefits.  Texas has developed a large biodiesel production capacity, having about 14 percent of the total U.S. production capacity.  However, developing dedicated biodiesel feedstocks is crucial to sustain and further expand the Texas biodiesel industry. Texas can contribute huge acreage to the biofuels production process because Texas has more than 24 million cropland acres, not including several million acres in Conservation Reserve Program, and many more acres of marginal crop land that can be accessed to help solve our nation’s energy dependency problem.

  The objectives of our research are two fold.  First, will be to evaluate adaptation of several varieties, or breeding lines, of Safflower, Camelina, Radish, Low Erucic Acid Rapeseed (LEAR), High Erucic Acid Rapeseed (HEAR), and Flax, to biotic and abiotic conditions in the major agronomic production areas across Texas.  Based on the first objective, oil-seed crops with the highest yield potential and best adaptation for each production area will be identified and management practices will be developed to increase crop yield efficiency and pest management strategies. 

  Each location will evaluate both spring and winter-types of the oil-seed crops listed above.  Plot sizes vary by location, but are typically greater than 0.001 acre with a minimum of three replicates.  Most locations were planted with a small plot grain drill on 7 to 10 inch centers, except safflower which were planted on 15 to 20 inch centers.  Seeding rate, planting depth, fertility management, and pest management are based on agronomic experience and current recommendations.  Agronomic field notes will be taken on pest levels, stand establishment, freeze injury, and other yield limiting factors.  Oil yield and quality will be measured and will be reported in this poster.  Funding provided by Chevron Technology Ventures.