Cultivation_Problems_and_Perspectives (2).pdf
Creators: name: Ben-David, Eric
name: Dag, Arnon
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: 70305 Crop and Pasture Improvement (Selection and Breeding)
subject: FOS: Agriculture, forestry and fisheries
subject: FOS: Agriculture, forestry and fisheries
subject: 70306 Crop and Pasture Nutrition
subject: 70307 Crop and Pasture Post Harvest Technologies (incl. Transportation and Storage)
subject: 70399 Crop and Pasture Production not elsewhere classified
subject: 70308 Crop and Pasture Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds)
subject: 70303 Crop and Pasture Biochemistry and Physiology
subject: 70304 Crop and Pasture Biomass and Bioproducts
subject: 79901 Agricultural Hydrology (Drainage, Flooding, Irrigation, Quality, etc.)
subject: FOS: Other agricultural sciences
subject: FOS: Other agricultural sciences

description: Oil producing plants have been used in religious ceremonies, for personal use and adornment, and for flavouring throughout history by populations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Nowdays there is a world-wide pressure by consumers to use perceived natural compounds in edible and personal products. It is vital that producers should be able to service this growing demand efficiently, economically and above all reliably. This publication addresses the need for a detailed information on the major oil producing crops namely Argan (Argania spinosa), corn (Zea mays), olive (Olea europaea), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), rapeseed (Brassica napus), rice (Oryza sativa), soybean (Glycine max) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus). For each of which a brief history of the use and economic data is given, and enviromental requirements, cultivation, and harvesting described. Results of current research and recommendations for improved agronomic practices, together with methods of adding value to the crop are also discussed. The oil crops species belong to various botanical groups. The argan and the olive are species of evergreen perennial trees while the other oil crops are annual herbaceous plants. Some of the oil crops have been traditionally cultivated for centuries, while others are a product of a conventional breeding program or genetic modification (GM). Variety selection, environmental conditions, irrigation and fertilization all exert substantial influence on the oil quality parameters. In the past five years, about 56 percent of oilseeds produced and 80 percent of oilseeds traded worldwide have been soybeans. By country, the United States has the largest producer of soybean, peanut and corn. The Russian Federation is a major sunflower producing country while India, China and Canada are the largest producers of rapeseed. The olive oil production is concentrated in the Mediterranean countries Spain, Italy, Greece, Syrian, Turkey, Morocco and Algeria. The Argan oil production is exclusive to Morocco. In terms of exportation (1000 $), USA dominates maize oil exportation (246,163); Spain is the prime exporter of virgin olive oil (2,300,510); Argentina dominates peanut and soybean oils exportation (66,468 and 2,789,292 respectively) while Thailand, Canada and Ukraine are the prime exporters of oils from rice bran, rapeseed and sunflower respectively (2,696,248; 1,095,566 and 175,953 respectively). The Mediterranean region provides optimal conditions for the olive growth. The argan tree is extremely well adapted to drought and environmental conditions of southwestern Morocco. On the other hand, peanut, sunflower and the corn are native to the Americas. Although rice species are native to South Asia and certain parts of Africa, centuries of trade and exportation have made it commonplace in many cultures. Similarly, the soybeans are also native to east Asia and will grow well in climates with hot summers in other continents. The oil crops are prone to attacks by a large number of pests. Consequently the oil quality may deteriorate. Moreover, pesticides used by the farmers may leave residues in the oil. In addition to their use in the manufacture of oil and food (with the exclusion of the nonedible argan and rapeseed), oil crops are being used in the manufacture of a variety of industrial and/or cosmetic products. Other olive products include table olives, olive paste (tapenade), skin care products, olive oil soap and even bio-gas production; peanuts have a variety of industrial end uses. Paint, varnish, lubricating oil, leather dressings, furniture polish, insecticides, and nitroglycerin are made from peanut oil; Sunflowers may be used to extract toxic ingredients from soil, such as lead, arsenic and uranium; Soybeans are the primary ingredient in many processed foods, including dairy product; substitutes Infant formulas based on soy are used by lactose-intolerant babies and for babies that are allergic to cow milk proteins; rapeseed oil is used in the manufacture of biodiesel for powering motor vehicles while the argan wood is being used in a more traditional manner as an energy source for heating.