On October 6 and 7, SAIPOL organized a field visit lap of camelina experimental fields sown in a summer double cropping system after cereals or peas. Set up in a double cropping system, camelina would make it possible to meet some of the objectives of advanced biofuels or even of the bioeconomy development. Various agricultural cooperatives participate in the development of this innovative subject (SeineYonne, Terrena, Groupe Scael, Océalia) as well as ARVALIS within the framework of the 4CE-MED program (supported by Europe).
Despite the late harvest conditions for cereals and peas this year, 140 hectares of camelina sown by Terrena’s members have been monitored thanks to summer rainfall allowing a good crop development. These weather conditions were nevertheless exceptional, it will be necessary to remain vigilant on the feasibility of these systems in the coming years.
- Two of the visited fields were sown around July 7, 2021 behind barley: light tillage and 50 units of organic nitrogen (slurry) at sowing, supplemented with anti-grass protection to manage barley regrowth.
- Another visited field was sown on July 8, 2021 behind peas, after total weeding before sowing. Starter fertilization was applied.
What can be learn from those exchanges:
- Light tillage immediately after harvest followed by a rolling and a nitrogen supply has ensured the harvest of 80% of the experimental fields sown. This seems to be the most relevant crop management for a good implantation of camelina.
- In the West-France mixed crop-livestock agricultural areas, Camelina raised some questions: what about the working time and the competition with other tasks (harvesting cereal straw, etc.)? What about the risk of water deficit?
- The Lentils-Camelina crop mixture, implemented in organic farming, is another opportunity to be studied for the sustainability of these systems: no plant protection, no competition for land use …
- Terrena also tried to sow camelina under cover with the drone before the harvest of the previous crop but Camelina emerged very heterogeneously. Sowing possibilities behind the cutter bar of the harvester (harvest/sowing pairing) should also be studied.
- Other systems with Camelina are being studied, especially after energy catch crop in the Bourgogne region with Camelina sown in May.