1. Dhurba Neupane1, Juan Solomon2 and Jay Davison3
The Influence of Seeding Date and Sowing Method on Camelina Seed and Biomass Production in Nevada
Dhurba Neupane1, Juan Solomon2 and Jay Davison3
1Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, 2Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, & Veterinary Sciences, 3University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, University of Nevada, Reno .
Introduction
Field Plot Work
Results
Camelina a low input crop can be a valuable alternative for crop production in semiarid conditions like Nevada, where groundwater levels are diminishing thus leading to a decline in water allocation for agriculture production.
Date and method of planting are important agronomic management practices that are known to influence crop production.
For example, cultivars within plant species like Camelina may differ in their response to temperature and ability to absorb soil moisture in drought conditions and this can alter overall crop productivity.
In order to provide growers with suitable agronomic practices for Camelina production in western Nevada, time and method of planting are important management factors that must be determined.
Seed and biomass yield of Camelina averaged across two growing seasons (2016 – 2017) 
Parameters
Planting date SE
p-value
Sowing method
Early
Late
Drill
Broadcast
Seed yield
(kg ha-1)
754
466 57
< 0.001
672
549
0.059
Biomass production
(kg DM ha-1)
1968
1309
430
0.176
2080
1198
0.074
Objective
To evaluate the effects of seeding date and sowing method on seed yield and biomass production of Camelina.
Materials and Methods
Results
Research site: Main Station Field Lab, University of Nevada, Reno, NV. The soil at the study site is classified as a Truckee silt loam (a fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Fluvaquentic Haploxerolls).
Climate: Semiarid with average precipitation of 229 mm year-1.
Treatments & Experimental Design: Three cultivars (Blaine Creek, Columbia, and Pronghorn), two sowing methods (Broadcast and Drilled), and two seeding dates (early and late-spring) arranged in a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial in randomized complete block design with four replications.
Plot Establishment & Management: Plots were 1.8 m wide × 7.6 m long. Early-spring seeding was done on March 18, and late spring seeding on April 18 for the first year of the study (2016).
In the second year (2017), due to flooded conditions at experimental site early-spring planting was done on April 11 and late-spring planting May 11. Camelina was seeded at 5 kg ha-1 at a depth of 0.5 cm in both years.
Fertilizer Application: Nitrogen was applied at a rate of 80 kg N ha-1 using urea and based on soil test recommendation, P was applied at a rate of 40 kg P ha-1 using TSP two weeks after germination to all plots. No K fertilizer was applied.
Herbicide application: Sethoxydim was applied at a rate of 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1 to control grass weeds. Post emergence broadleaf weeds were controlled manually by hand cleaning.
Supplemental Irrigation: Sprinkler handlines (9.1 m apart with 9.1 m spray radius). Average 546 mm of water was applied during each growing season.
Data collected : SPAD chlorophyll index, light Interception, plant height, seed and biomass yield.
Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed by fitting mixed models using PROC MIXED in SAS.
Summary
SPAD chlorophyll index, light interception, and plant height of Camelina averaged across two growing seasons (2016 – 2017) 
SPAD chlorophyll index differed among Camelina cultivars, but there was no effect of planting date and sowing method on SPAD chlorophyll index.
Light interception and plant height were different between planting dates and sowing methods.
Early-spring seeded Camelina intercepted greater amount of light than late-spring seeded Camelina.
Planting Camelina in early-spring resulted in a 61.8% increase in seed yield compared to late-spring.
There was a trend for greater seed yield when Camelina was drill compared to broadcast seeding.
Camelina seed yield was not different among cultivars and there were no interactions involving cultivar in this study.
There was no effect of planting date on Camelina biomass production, but Camelina drill seeding tended to produce greater biomass than broadcasting.
Based on the results of this study, seeding Camelina in early-spring in western Nevada offers the greatest opportunity to maximize seed yield.
Parameters
Planting date SE
p-value
Early
Late
SPAD Index
31.3
33.0
1.05
0.2634
LI (%)
82.5a
55.9b
3.3
<0.0001
Plant height (cm)
88.0a
80.1b
1.3
Parameters
Sowing method SE
p-value
Broadcast
Drill
SPAD Index
32.3
31.9
1.04
0.7967
LI (%)
62.2b
76.1a
3.3
0.0001
Plant height (cm)
82.3b
85.8a
1.3
0.0218
Parameters
Cultivar SE
p-value
Blaine creek
Columbia
Pronghorn
SPAD Index
35.4a
31.6b
29.3b
1.2
0.0047
LI (%)
65.3
72.9
69.4
3.7
0.1901
Plant height (cm)
84.6
84.0
83.5
1.5
0.8325