Pan, X., Caldwell, C. D., Falk, K. C. and Lada, R. 2012. The effect of cultivar, seeding rate and applied nitrogen on Brassica carinata seed yield and quality in contrasting environments. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 961–971. The unremitting growth of oilseed demand makes it necessary to explore alternative oilseed crops to meet this requirement. This study evaluated the effects of genotype, seeding rate and nitrogen (N) supply on the seed yield and quality of oilseed Brassica carinata A. Braun in three contrasting environments (Truro, NS, Harrington, PE and Saskatoon, SK). Useful genetic variation in agronomic and seed quality characteristics was found among these 10 B. carinata genotypes and genotype selection requires location specific recommendation. Line 050488EM had consistently good yield in both Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, while line 070768EM displayed better yield stability across 2 yr in Saskatchewan. Because of the high degree of compensatory ability to low plant population, maximum seed yield of B. carinata can be achieved over the range from 34 to 114 plants m−2. No significant difference in oil and protein content of seed due to seeding rates was observed. The linear increase in seed and oil yield with increased N rate up to 150 kg ha−1 indicates that B. carinata is highly responsive to applied N. Increases in N supply resulted in a decrease in oil content and a corresponding increase in protein content in all experiments. In summary, the findings of this study provide convincing evidence of the agronomic adaptation of B. carinata to all three locations.

Hydrogen gas (H 2 ) is an obligate byproduct of the N 2 -fixing enzyme, nitrogenase, claiming about 5-6% of the crops' net photosynthesis but most, if not all of the H 2 lost from nodules is oxidized by the soil surrounding the root system of the plant. When soils not recently used to support the growth of legumes were exposed to H 2 gas at a rate and duration similar to that of soil adjacent to legume nodules, the fertility of the soil was enhanced in comparison with soil treated with air. Under growth-chamber and field conditions, H 2 -treated soils improved the growth performance of spring wheat, canola, barley and soybean (nonsymbiotic) when compared with untreated soils or with soils pretreated with air. The dry weights of 4-to 7-weekold plants were 15-48% greater in the H 2 -treated soil, and in barley and spring wheat, tiller number of 7-week-old plants were 36 and 48% greater in the H 2 -treated soils. These findings may contribute to an explanation for the persistence of H 2 evolving associations in agricultural legume symbioses selected for high yields (Uratsu et al ., Crop Science 22, 600-602, 1982) and suggest that it may be possible to isolate, identify and culture the micro-organisms that are responsible for at least some of the benefits of legumes in crop rotation.

Camelina [Camelina sativa L. Crantz], an oilseed crop in the Brassicaceae family, was field tested at multiple locations in the Maritime Provinces of eastern Canada in 2012 to evaluate the effects of N and S on seed yield, protein content, protein yield, oil content, and fatty acid profile. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block factorial design with six N rates (20, 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200 kg ha -1 N), two S rates (0 and 25 kg ha -1 S) and two lines of camelina (CDI005 and CDI007). The application of N increased the seed yield, protein content, protein yield, and percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA); however, N rate was negatively correlated with oil content and resulted in a reduction of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). The optimum N rate for yield ranged from 120 to 160 kg ha -1 N. Sulfur affected yield, protein content, protein yield, oil content, percentage of MUFA, and percentage of PUFA only when the N level was sufficient.

L. 2008. The effect of cultivar and applied nitrogen on the performance of Camelina sativa L. in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 88: 111Á119. Worldwide, oilseed demand is steadily expanding. This study assessed the novel oilseed crop Camelina sativa L. in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Evaluations of cultivar and applied N were performed at Truro, NS, Harrington, PEI, and Hartland, NB, in 2005 and. The results show that the selection of cultivar is an important determinant for the potential success or failure of C. sativa production. Differences in plant stand, plant height, seed yield, oil content and fatty acid profile were found among the cultivars. The cultivar Calena provided the most consistent performance in terms of plant establishment, yield and oil content across all year-sites. Plant height, seed yield, oil content, total plant N and seed protein all responded to applied N rate. Applied N increased the seed yield of C. sativa, but the increase was not significant when the application rates were over 60 kg N ha(1 in NS or 80 kg N ha (1 in PEI. Plant height, total N content in plant tissue and seed protein content increased with increased N application, while oil content decreased. With the exception of erucic acid, all the main fatty acids in C. sativa oil responded to applied N levels or the interaction of N levels and year. Regression analysis showed that the contents of oleic acid and eicosenoic acid decreased with increased N application. The response of linolenic acid to N application was not consistent at each year-site. Results of this study provide convincing evidence of the agronomic suitability of C. sativa to the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Les re´sultats indiquent que le choix du cultivar joue un grand roˆle dans la re´ussite ou l'e´chec e´ventuels de la production de C. sativa. La densite´du peuplement, le rendement grainier, la teneur en huile et la composition en acides gras varient avec le cultivar. La varie´te´Calena est celle qui donne la performance la plus stable pour ce qui est de l'implantation, du rendement et de la teneur en huile pour l'ensemble des anne´es-sites. La hauteur du plant, le rendement grainier, la teneur en huile, la concentration totale de N dans la plante et celle de prote´ines dans la graine re´agissent tous a`la quantite´de N applique´e. L'amendement accroıˆt le rendement grainier de C. sativa, mais la hausse n'est pas significative aux taux supe´rieurs a`60 kg de N par hectare en N.-É . ou a`80 kg de N par hectare a`l'Iˆ.-P.-É . L'application d'une plus grande quantite´de N rehausse la hauteur du plant, la teneur totale de N dans les tissus et la concentration de prote´ines dans la graine mais on note une diminution de la teneur en huile. Outre l'acide e´rucique, tous les principaux acides gras de l'huile de C. sativa re´agissent a`l'application d'une quantite´supe´rieure de N. La re´action de l'acide linole´nique a`l'application de N est pas uniforme d'une anne´e-site a`l'autre. Les re´sultats de l'e´tude donnent des preuves convai...

No abstract