Sulfur Management of Brassica Carinata in Florida.

Brassica carinata is a superior alternative to canola (Brassica napus) due to its high protein content and a fatty acid profile ideal for efficient conversion into biojet fuel. B. carinata are generally grown in the northern latitudes during the summer season, but recent studies have suggested that yields are comparable when grown in the southeastern US during the winter season. However, nutrient requirements for oilseed crops have not been fully evaluated for this region. In this study, we compared phenotypic responses such as oil content, protein content, and glucosinolate production as well as total seed yield at five sulfur rates in B. carinata and B. napus. The rate of 30 kg S ha^-1 maximized yields for B. carinata and B. napus. Both Brassica species responded negatively to reduced sulfur availability by poor pod development and reduced seed yield. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) revealed a reduction in glucosinolate and protein content at low rates of sulfur that was more significant in B. carinata then in B. napus. Overall, response to sulfur availability was similar in both species. However, B. carinata was able to yield more seed with higher oil and glucosinolate content even atlower rates of sulfur . These results will help establish a management strategy for northern Florida.