Castor as an Industrial Feedstock for Texas Calvin Trostle Dick Auld Extension Agronomist Plant & Soil Sciences Texas AgriLife Extension Service Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock 806.746.6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu 806.742.5704, dick.auld@ttu.edu

Castor in Texas (Ricinus communis L.) Seed Yield: 900-3,000 lbs./A Oil Content: 45 to 60% (50-200 gal/A) Fatty Acids: 85% ricinoleic acid Disadvantages: Ricin & Allergens Advantages: High Oil Yields, Highly Valuable Oil, Widely Adapted Castor is listed as a strategic commodity by the Federal government

Castor History in Texas Produced in Plainview area through the early 1970s (up to 50,000 acres/year) Ricin issue requires strict adherence to safe handling & complete separation from food and feed markets Texas Dept. of Ag. considers castor a noxious weed hence production issues may arise; Homeland Security has an interest, too

Current Castor Research in Texas Breeding at Texas Tech Univ. Low ricin line now released Statewide assessment of castor adaptation Additional State of Texas funding including: N fertility Planting date & assessing new varieties Herbicide testing (only trifluralin is labeled) Harvest aids & seed fungicide treatments Use of denatured meal for feed & establishment of regulatory guidelines for castor meal use

Development of Castor as a New Feedstock for Renewable Fuels Non-Food Crops: (Ricinoleic Acid & Ricin) Adapted to Marginal Areas: (Drought & Salt Tolerance) Optimize Yields and Farmer Profits: (Oil Yield & Mechanization) (Reduced Ricin Meals) Produce Premium Quality Biofuels: (Reduce Viscosity of Oil)

Future Castor Research Reduced Ricin Toxin Improved Water Use Genetic Yield Enhancement

Use Of Conventional Genetics to Reduce Ricin Levels in Castor PI 258 368 (VNIIMK 1151) PI 257 654 ( Early Hybrid) 2.5 mg/g Ricin + RCA120 Hale (1970 Release by Ray Brigham) 14.0 mg/g Ricin + RCA120

Conventional Genetics to Reduce Ricin Levels in Castor 2003 - Release TTU LRC Germplasm Crop Sci 43 : 746-747 2009 - Release of ‘Brigham’ Castor Hale = 4,210 ug/ml (38% Total Proteins) Brigham = 416 ug/ml (4% Total Proteins) 2012 – Future Castor Varieties McKeon = 40 ug/ml (0.4% Total Proteins)

Dryland Castor Production--Brazil

Drought Tolerance

Salt Tolerance Pecos, TX

Hybrid Vigor

Genetic Diversity

Potential Cellulosic Biomass Feedstock

Potential Texas Castor Production High Yielding & Adapted Varieties Castor can readily meet the 100 gal/A goal Compatible With Existing Rotation Optimally with cotton/other crops not harvested for grain so castor volunteer is not an issue Drought & Salt Tolerant Varieties Would enable production in areas of the state with little food or feed grains Cost Effective & Sustainable Production

Castor Potential High potential for profitability based on current oil market of ~$10-12/gallon for filtered oil after crushing Castor oil’s role is in industrial waxes, greases, high temperature lubrication Initial interest in jet fuel has waned due to difficulty making the fuel “Don’t waste castor oil on making biofuel.”

Castor Concerns Combine must be dedicated to castor only Trucks, other hauling equipment must be meticulously cleaned A few castor seeds will require rejection of corn, sorghum, etc. if market is for food or feed No significant seed supply at this point Semi-dwarf ‘Hale’ could be increased quickly No current crushing facility for oil extraction Any facility must be dedicated to castor or industrial non-food uses

Castor Production Susceptible to cotton root rot Minimum 140 days of growth, but crop remains indeterminant, and can produce for 180 days Plainview, northern Rolling Plains—Plant after early May, but before mid-June

Castor Production 1-2 seeds/foot Requires major fertility program for N, P, maybe K Direct cut combine harvest on shorter varieties possible using an all crop header without modification, esp. if growth regulators are used Harvest aids enable earlier harvest to reduce shattering? Growth regulators to shorten plant for conventional combine harvest?

Research and Extension Dr. John B. Morris (USDA-ARS) Acknowledgement Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Dr. Travis Miller Dr. John B. Morris (USDA-ARS) Griffin, GA

Funding provided by This event also made possible, in part, by generous support from the City of Plainview Convention & Visitors Bureau.