ARS | Publication request: Oilseed Productivity Under Varying Water Availability

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 2008
Publication Date: February 18, 2008
Repository URL: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/irrigate/OOW/P08/Niesen08a.pdf
Citation: Nielsen, D.C. 2008. Oilseed Productivity Under Varying Water Availability. Presented at the Proc. 20th Annual Central Plains Irrigation Conference and Exposition. Feb. 19-20, 2008. Greeley, Colo. Pages 30-33.

Technical Abstract: Oilseeds for biofuel production may serve as one of the alternative energy strategies that the United States will employ in the future. Biodiesel can be produced from oil extracted from canola, mustard, camelina, sunflower, safflower, and soybean. This paper compares soil water extraction and water use/yield production functions for these six crops and evaluates estimated seed yield production under three water availability conditions and three Great Plains locations. Estimated yields for soybean are generally higher under similar water use conditions than for the other oilseed crops, but there may be yield loss factors due to low first node pod height and seed shatter that may lower yields. Seed yield for the other oilseeds will probably range between 1470 and 2170 lb/a for water use ranging between 15 and 20 inches. All of these oilseeds may have potential for biodiesel production under limited irrigation conditions in the Great Plains.