Camelina a Potential New Oilseed for Washington, Idaho, and Oregon

Stephen Guy – Extension AgronomistDepartment of Crop and Soil Sciences

Washington State Universitysguy@wsu.edu

Ph. 509-335-5831

Jim B. DavisDept. of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences

University Idaho

What is Camelina ?Camelina sativa or False flax

– Oilseed crop in the Brassicaceae (mustard) family.– Ancient crop previously grown in northern Europe.– Grown as a short season, spring annual.

• Good cold tolerance.– Seed has 28-35% oil, some reports of 40%.

• High in omega-3 fatty acids.• High in polyunsaturated fats.

– Commercial crop acreage mostly in Montana, but some production has occurred in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.

• Short season, temperate climate crop: 85-100 days.• Can be grown on marginal agricultural lands.• Low cultural inputs.• No seed dormancy, good germination at low temps• Stress Tolerant .

– Seedlings are cold tolerant – observed to 0oF.– Withstands high temperatures at flowering .– Withstands drought stress well.

• Higher harvest index (33%) than canola (20%).• Lower water use than canola.• Good rotation crop with small grains.

Camelina Adaptation

Camelina End Uses

• Oil is low in saturated fats – high in to omega-3 polyunsaturated fats.

• Oil contains gamma tocopherol (Vitamin E), an anti-oxidant that stabilizes the oil for a long shelf life.

• Potential to be used in edible and industrial products.• New push as a biofuel – jet fuel for PNW and military.• Other use in cosmetics, soaps, spray adjuvant,

biodiesel.• Camelina is moderately low in glucosinolates.• Meal as animal feed: 45% crude protein, 10-11% fiber.

– Needs GRAS status from FDA for use in human food chain.

Camelina agronomic practices

• Planting – early spring or late fall/winter dormant

• Use adapted varieties – Calena, Columbia, Celine

• Shallow drilling or broadcast seeding + packing works –residue is helpful and seed to moisture

• Seed into weed free fields

• Use Poast® for grass weeds

• 3-5 lb/acre of seed

Camelina agronomic practices

• Avoid fields with carryover herbicides – IMI’s, SU’s,

• 75-150 lb N total/acre, add 25-100 lb/acre N fertilizer

• Direct cut as soon a color is brown<8% moisture

• No known insect pests– Flea beetle– Lygus bug– Aphid– Cabbage seedpod weevil

Harvest• Harvest when pods are brown• Direct cutting easiest• Swathing is possible• Less biomass than canola• Threshes easily• Reduce air due to small seed• Install small opening screens

(alfalfa seed) to separate pods/seeds

• Low % of pods OK for crushing• A 1500 lb/a seed yield gives

3000 lb/a of residue.

Camelina Seeding Studies – Moscow, 2007

• Drilled on 3-19, 4-5, 4-19. – D1, 3-19 2175 lb/a– D2, 4-5 2070 lb/a– D3, 4-19 1655 lb/a

• Seeding method, seed 4-19 – Drilled 2070 lb/a– Placed on surface 1185 lb/a– Placed and packed 1730 lb/a– Broadcast 1285 lb/a

Camelina Nitrogen Fertilizer Trials

Moscow’07

Greencreek‘07

Moscow‘08

Moscow‘09

Pullman‘10

N rate lb/a ------------------------------ Yield lb/acre --------------------------------

0 2020 760 630 1640 880

20 2015 920 670 1820 1220

40 2080 940 790 2020 1700

60 2150 1090 840 2280 1920

80 2150 1210 840 2590 2190

100 2025 1350 910 2620 2380

LSD 0.5 NS 200 100 170 130

Camelina Variety Trials

2007Moscow, IDGreencreek, IDDusty, WA

2008Pendleton, ORMoscow, IDLacrosse, WAPullman, WA

2009Pullman - FallDusty - FallPullman - Spring

2010Pullman

Camelina Cultivar Yields

Variety 2007 2008 2009 2010Blaine Creek 1472 1521 2895 2150Celine 1600 3500 2400Columbia 1642 1441 3170 2230Calena 1657 1631 3435 2375Ligena 1587 1511

Reasons to Grow Camelina• Camelina is adapted to our growing

environments, including direct seeding.

• Camelina has low input costs, and is an ‘easy’ crop to grow.

• Camelina should be a beneficial rotation crop for wheat and reduce disease, insect, and other pest problems.

• Camelina might be grown on land not previously suited for alternative crops.

Potential Problems Growing Camelina

• Weed control – only Poast® registered for grass weeds.

• Setting up combine for harvest.• Limited market – get a contract.• Limited agronomic knowledge.• Limited grower experience, usually 3 years to

learn a crop.• Unknown diseases or insects.• Herbicide carryover – IMIs (Pursuit & Beyond)

and SUs always follow plant-back restrictions (canola or mustard).

Camelina tolerant to IMI-herbicide carry-over

Unsprayed Calena Mutant 1 Calena4 oz pursuit 4 oz pursuit

Beyond tolerant mutant

Camelina agronomy shows a potential crop for Washington, Idaho, and Oregon

• Has very good yield potential at multiple locations.More work needed on varieties and locations.

• Fertilizer needs more study –similar to canola 5-7lb N/100 lb seed production (?) .determine sulfur requirements.

• Can be seeded early spring or late fall.• Harvest index is 0.33, (seed:biomass)

gives yield stability, less water and fertilizer.• No current insect pest problems.• Withstands cold and heat. • Production contracts and grower support is essential for Camelina producers.

Camelina Resources

OSU Fact Sheet EM 8953-Ehttp://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/Search for “Camelina”

Stephen Guy: 509-335-5831 sguy@wsu.edu