Performance of Camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) Under Semiarid Conditions in Central Great Plains, USA.

An alternative crop with potential for dryland crop production in the Great Plains is camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz). Camelina sativa is early maturing and drought tolerant, a characteristic that makes it a good fit as a rotation crop in dryland wheat-based cropping systems. Planting date selection and nutrient management are important management factors that can affect camelina production. Experiments were conducted in Hays, KS in 2013, 2014, and 2015 growing seasons to evaluate planting date effects on spring camelina performance and determine nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) rates required for optimum camelina production. The planting date study consisted of three seeding dates (early, mid, and late) as the main plots and camelina varieties (Blaine Creek, Pronghorn, and Shoshone) as the sub-plot factor. Treatments in the second study were two fertilizer S rates (0 and 20 kg ha^-1) as main plot and four fertilizer N rates (0, 22, 45, and 90 kg ha^-1) as subplot. Data was collected on time of flowering and physiological maturity, plant height, stand counts, harvest index, total biomass, seed yield, oil and protein content. Results showed that planting date affected camelina flowering time and physiological maturity. Seed yield was significantly (P=0.002) different among varieties, primarily affected by year × planting date interaction. Protein content was significantly different among the varieties (Shoshone< Pronghorn< Blaine creek), but oil concentration did not differ. Nitrogen and sulfur application had no effect on plant stand, plant height, harvest index, biomass yield, protein and oil content. Similarly, seed yield was unaffected by S application. However, fertilizer N rate had a significant (P=0.004) effect on seed yield. Yield differences were realized for 2013 (~450 kg ha^-1), 2014 (~820 kg ha^-1), and 2015 (~850 kg ha^-1). Applying N beyond 45 kg ha^-1 resulted in no significant improvement in seed yield.