Brassica Carinata As an Oilseed,‘Drop-in' Biofuel Crop in the Southeastern US.

Production of biofuel crops in the US is a crucial step toward reducing the need for foreign fuels. Preservation of agricultural lands for food production is also essential, and the southeastern US is unique in its access to fallow winter acreage for biofuel production while the biofuel crop provides needed winter ground cover.  A sustainable cropping system with biofuel crop production that does not interfere with traditional row crops has been proposed for Florida’s row crop and pasture systems, with the potential of producing up to 100 million gallons of biofuel. Brassica carinata,  is an oilseed crop that is drought and heat tolerant, adapts well to low input systems, and has a higher oil content than other oilseed crops. The benefits of growing B. carinata in Florida include desired characteristics for ‘drop-in’ biofuel, potential bio fumigant for nematodes and weeds, ability to grow on marginal land with minimal inputs, and additional economic means for smaller agricultural producers. This study will focus on developing best management practices for production in the southeastern US  as a winter cover crop, including planting date, seeding rates and row spacing, nitrogen rates, and tillage methods. Impact on subsequent crops and genotype selection will also be tested.