Agronomic Practices to Produce Low Carbon Winter Oilseeds for Biofuel and Bioproducts

Winter camelina (Camelina sativa L.) and domesticated pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) are promising cool-season oilseed crops and can replace winter fallow in Midwestern crop rotations. These crops are valuable for producing low-carbon raw materials for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other biofuels and bioproducts. They also provide vital ecosystem services including reducing soil erosion, minimizing nutrient leaching and supporting pollinators. They can be grown in both relay and double-cropping systems in the corn-soybean rotation. In a relay system, these crops are grown simultaneously with main cash crops like soybean or corn for a period of time. For instance, soybeans can be relayed (planted) into growing winter camelina, with the camelina being harvested early while the soybean canopy remains intact, allowing both crops to be harvested in the same year. Double-cropping involves planting a cash crop, such as soybean, after harvesting the oilseed crop, which also allows for two harvests in the same year. In this way, growers can produce low carbon bio-feedstocks and avoid the land competition for food and fuel production. To expedite the adoption of these emerging oilseed crops, it is crucial to reduce the yield gap between monoculture vs relay or double-cropped systems which is a common challenge in the upper Midwest where growing degree days are limited. Effective nitrogen fertilizer management, improved varieties, proper seeding times and planting techniques not only could boost oilseed seed yields but also could lower the carbon footprint and minimize this yield gap. This presentation will highlight key agronomic practices essential for the successful production of oilseed crops in the Midwest to provide low carbon bio-feedstock and contribute to cropping systems sustainability.