Growth and Yield Response of Camelina Sativa to inorganic Fertilizers and Farmyard Manure in Hot Semi-Arid Climate of India

Abstract

Camelina [Camelina sativa L. (Crantz)], a potential alternative oilseed crop of family Brassicaceae, has gained renewed interests as a feedstock for biodiesel production. Effect of sulphur (0, 10, 20 and 30kg ha-1) and farmyard manure (FYM) (20 and 30tons ha-1) on plant growth, seed yield and oil content of camelina in degraded land of hot semi-arid climate was studied during the winter season (November to February). Both Sulfur and organic fertilizer neither significantly (P<0.05) influenced plant growth nor yield attributes nor even seed oil content of camelina. However, addition of N and P2O5 exhibited significant (P<0.05) increase growth and seed yield including seed oil content over control. Maximum seed yield (72.2g m-2) was recorded in treatment combination comprising 30 tons FYM, 20kg S, 60kg P2O5 and 100kg N ha-1. Seed oil content, ranged from 29.1 to 32.5%. Quality of seed oil of camelina (grown at the hot semi-arid climate) was also assessed by analyzing the patterns of fatty acids composition. Results indicated that camelina can be successfully cultivated in the degraded land of hot semi-arid zone during the winter season that too in a short growing period. Considerable seed yield and oil content as well as corresponding fatty acid profile of camelina oil reported in this study indicated promising potentials for its suitability for the hot semi-arid regions. However, it would be pertinent to further identify growth and production requirements for the crop in order to strengthen baseline data on its agronomic attributes for ensuring its efficient cultivation on degraded lands of hot semi-arid region.