Response of Camelina to Nitrogen, 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 oilseed 

suitable 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, P2O5 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 sampled 

initially 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 P2O5/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 Station 
The programs of the MSU Extension Service are available to all people regardless of race, creed, color, sex, disability or national origin. Issued 

in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and 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 

Kalispell1

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 

NO3‐N (lb/acre)  39  70  58  68  60  14 

SO4‐S (lb/acre)  531  1476  2823  94  78  ‐‐ 

1Results from this location are from an 18 inch soil sample for all analyses. 

Soil N + Fertilzer N (lb/acre)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Seed 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 80 100 120 140

Seed Oil Content (%)

32

34

36

38

40

42

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

Treatment

P2O5 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 different 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.