Camelina Growing Degree Hour and Base Temperature Requirements

Oilseed crops show potential as biofuel feedstocks that can diversify spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotations in the northern Great Plains. Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) is a relatively new oilseed crop, with limited emergence information available. A 70-d incubator study investigated the impact of temperature (0, 2, 4, and 16 degrees C), seeding depth (3 and 6 mm), and cultivar (Blaine Creek, Calena, Celine, Ligena, and Suneson) on camelina emergence. After 68 d, camelina emergence at 0 degrees C approached 100%. Base temperature averaged -0.70 degrees C for the five cultivars tested and was 19% lower for the 6-than the 3-mm seeding depth, although emergence was 11% sooner for the 3-than the 6-mm seeding depth. About 1150 growing degree hours were required for 50% emergence, which corresponds to 29 March for camelina planted on 10 March, the earliest date when the average daily temperature exceeds the base temperature according to long-term weather records for Sidney, MT. These results suggest that camelina emerges at temperatures below the freezing point of water and that early planting in spring would probably be limited by field access due to wet soil rather than the base temperature requirement. Although camelina emerges at temperatures below freezing under laboratory conditions, further investigation is warranted to confirm emergence under field conditions and determine the frost tolerance of camelina subsequent to germination.