The Influence of Seeding Date and Sowing Method on Camelina Seed and Biomass Production in Nevada.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of seeding date and sowing method on Camelina seed yield and biomass production in northern Nevada. This field experiment was carried out at UNR Main Experiment Station Reno, NV in 2016. Treatments were three cultivars of Camelina (Blaine Creek, Columbia, and Pronghorn), two sowing methods (Broadcast and Drill), and two seeding dates (March-18 [Early Seeding] and April-18, [Late Seeding] 2016) in a 3×2×2 factorial combinations with four replications each in a RCBD experiment. Plot size was 7.6 m long × 1.8 m wide with 1.8 m alleyway between plots and blocks. Camelina was seeded on the respective dates using a cone seeder at a rate of 5 kg PLS seed ha^-1. Data collected were plant height, SPAD chlorophyll index, light interception, seed, and biomass yield. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS and treatment means were different P < 0.05. Plant height differs between seeding dates (P < 0.0001; SEM 1.0), early seeding date produced taller plants (89.5 cm) than late seeding date (82.6 cm). Light intercepted by cultivar Columbia (81.1%) and Pronghorn (76.1%) was similar and both had greater light interception than Blaine Creek (68.4%). Light interception was greater for drilled Camelina (81.3%) than broadcast (69.1%) and early seeding (94.6%) compared to late seeding (55.6%). There were no main effects of cultivar (P = 0.7227; SEM 103) or sowing method (P = 0.9661; SEM 94) on Camelina seed yield. Average seed yield among cultivars was 703 kg ha^-1 and sowing method 704 kg ha^-1. Seeding date had an effect on seed yield (P < 0.0001; SEM 95). Seed yield of early seeding date (904 kg ha^-1) was greater than late seeding date (503 kg ha^-1). For Camelina biomass production, seeding early resulted in a 38 percent increase in biomass at harvest compared to late seeding (first year of data collection). Seeding Camelina early in March resulted in an 80% increase in seed yield compared to seeding in April.