### Response of Camelina to Nit rogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur

Grant D. Jackson, Professor of Agronomy

Western Triangle Ag. Research Center, Conrad

Introduction Consumption of biodiesel is expected to increase in the United States. An issue with biodiesel has been cost, and a substantial portion of that cost is in the base oil ingredient. By using a crop with relatively low inputs, production costs would be lowered, decreasing the overall cost of biodiesel. Camelina shows considerable promise as an oilseedsuitable for bio-products and for lowinput cropping systems since it can be planted very early in the spring.

Methods Nitrogen (N) rates of 0, 30, and 60 lb N/acre, P 2 O 5 rates of 0, 15, and 30 lb/acre, and sulfur (S) rates of 0, 10, and 20 lb/acre (0 and 15 lb S/acre in 2006) were applied to camelina (Selena) at several locations in 2005 and 2006. Due to funding cuts, only N treatments of 0, 30, 60, and 90 lb N/acre were applied in 2007 at one location. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design. Nitrogen as urea, 25 lb/acre of potassium (K) as KCl, and S as potassium sulfate were applied while seeding in a band approximately one inch above and to the side of the seed row or broadcast. Phosphorus (P) fertilizer as 0-45-0 was applied with the seed. Previous crops were tilled fallow or chemical fallow in 2005 and 2006, and barley in 2007. All plot areas were planted no-till except at the Western Triangle Ag. Research Center (WTARC) in 2005. Soils were sampledinitially for water, nitrate-N, and sulfateS in one foot increments to a depth of three feet. Surface soil samples (0-6 in.) were collected for standard soil analyses (Table 1). Plots were swathed and threshed with small plot equipment, and the seed weighed and tested for N, P, K, and S content, oil content, and fatty acid composition of the oil.

Results The effects of N on camelina seed yield and oil content are shown in Figures 1 and 2. The Kalispell location was the only site that did not exhibit a positive or neutral yield response to N fertilization. These data indicate that producers need to apply about 80 lb N/acre for optimum yield and oil content. Seed oil content usually averaged about 40% except during 2007 and generally declined slightly with increasing N rate.

The effect of P and S fertilization on camelina seed yield is shown in Table 2. Since there were no significant interactions, only the main effects of P and S are shown. Four of the five locations responded to P, but P soil tests at the responsive sites were 12 ppm or less. The non-responding site had a very high soil test of 46 ppm. When P soil tests are low or very low, growers should apply about 15 lb P 2 O 5 /acre and expect a yield increase of about 100 lb/acre. Sulfur fertilization did not affect seed yield in these experiments. Seed oil content was unaffected by P or S fertilization (data not shown).

Fertilizer Facts:

• Camelina needs about 70 to 90 lb N/ac (soil N + fertilizer N) for optimum seed yield and oil content, although more soil fertility trials are needed to establish a state-wide lb N/lb seed yield guideline.

• Camelina will likely respond to P fertilizer when P soil tests are 12 ppm or less.

• Camelina did not respond to S fertilization. 

### February 2008

Number 49 

# Fertilizer

F a c t s

F e r t i l i z e r √ o f f



### February 2008



### Number 49

Extension Service Agricultural Experiment StationThe programs of the MSU Extension Service are available to all pe ople regardless of race, creed, co lor, sex, disability or nati onal origin. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture a nd home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Douglas Steele, Vice Provost and Director, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717. 

### Table 1. Soil test results by location. Test Cut Bank 2005 Joplin 2005 WTARC 2005 Cut Bank 2006 Kalispell 1 

### 2006 WTARC 2007 pH  8.4  8.2  8.3  8.8  5.4  7.8 O.M. (%)  2.2  1.5  2.2  0.7  1.9  2.3 P (ppm)  7.4  10  12.1  5  46  28 K (ppm)  343  326 290  174  108  435 EC (mmhos/cm)  0.21  0.15  0.18  0.42  0.11  0.31 NO 3 

### ‐N (lb/acre)  39  70  58  68  60  14 SO 4 

### ‐S (lb/acre)  531  1476  2823  94  78  ‐‐

1 

### Results from this location are f rom an 18 inch soil sample for all analyses.

Soil N + Fertilzer N (lb/acre) 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140Seed Yield (lb/acre)

400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Cut Bank 05 Cut Bank 06 Joplin 05 WTARC 05 WTARC 07 Kalispell 06

Soil N + Fertilzer N (lb/acre) 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140Seed Oil Content (%)

32 34 36 38 40 42

Table 2. Effect of phosphorus and sulfur on camelina seed yield

. Treatmen t

P 2 O 5 or S Cut Bank 2005 Joplin 2005 WTARC 2005 Cut Bank 2006 Kalispell 2006 lb/acre Phosphorus Summary 0  529 a  1391 ab 959 a 1582 a  1508 a 15  614 b  1386 a 1045 b 1757 b  1531 a 30  647 b  1524 b 1058 b 1670 ab  1497 a Sulfur Summary 0  577 a  1430 a 1047 a 1644 a  1537 a 10  612 a  1437 a 1014 a ND  ND 15  ND  ND ND 1695 a  1487 a 20  601 a  ND 1001 a ND  ND Yield means with the same letter are not significantly differen t according to the LSD (p=0.05). ND = Not Determined.

Edited by Clain Jones, Extension Soil Fertility Specialist, and Elizabeth D’Imperio, Research Associate Figure 1. Effect of nitrogen on camelina seed yield. 2005-2007. Figure 2. Effect of nitrogen on camelina seed oil content. 2005-2007.