Effect of sowing date and nitrogen fertilizer application on water use efficiency of Camelina (Camelina sativa)

Currently oilseeds are of particular importance among crops and constitute the second food reserve in the world after cereals. Camelina is a new oil plant with a short growth period and good resistance to drought stress, pests and plant diseases and cold, which can play a role in oil production. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of sowing date and nitrogen fertilizer on growth and yield of Camelina in irrigated farms conditions under Kermanshah city climate in 2019-2020. A split plots experiment was conducted based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications at the experimental field of Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. The main factor was sowing dates (early November, mid-November and late November) and the sub factor was nitrogen fertilizer application (0, 100, 200, 300 kg ha-1). The results showed sowing date treatment had no significant effect on most of evaluated characteristics. The highest water use efficiency of grain (0.96 kg/mm) and grain oil (0.15 kg/mm) in treatment of 100 kg of urea he-1 and the highest water use efficiency of grain protein (0.23 kg/mm) and total protein (0.53 kg/mm) was observed in treatment of 300 kg of urea he-1. In general, the results showed that sowing date had no effect on water productivity of evaluated traits, however, use of 100 kg of urea he-1 due to higher water efficiency, along with the benefits of preventing environmental hazards, due to the improvement of most of the examined characteristics, it is recommended.