The effect of sowing date in establishing Camelina sativa as a valuable summer crop in France

Context European agriculture prioritizes sustainability and land use efficiency to improve economic, social, and environmental benefits by typically improving crop and land management. Intermediate cropping is an approach that can efficiently use available resources with biodiversity, agronomic, and soil health advantages. Lately Camelina sativa (L. Crantz, camelina) has been proposed as an intermediate oilseed crop option because of its low agronomic input requirements, short summer cycle, and utility across diverse agribusiness sectors. Recent scientific and industrial interest has increased the value of camelina grain and raised awareness of the considerable plasticity within its varieties, including natural resistance to abiotic stresses such as heat or drought. Objective This study explored different agronomic strategies to grow camelina as a summer intermediate crop for optimal seed yield and quality. Methods Field trials were conducted with a single camelina genotype in Paris (France), using conventional tillage and minimal inputs, over a period of three consecutive years with three sowing dates (spring, early summer, and summer), two types of sowing (row and broadcast), and two harvest practices (direct combining at harvest maturity and swathing at physiological maturity). Spring sowing (S1) was typically performed in March and the two summer sowings, in mid-June (S2; early summer) and early July (S3; summer). Results Sowing time and seasonal weather primarily drove yield (190–1157 kg ha −1 ), seed composition (oil and protein content of 38–45% and 23–32% dry matter, respectively) and fatty acid composition (higher C18:1 in S1 versus higher C18:3/polyunsaturated fatty acids in S2–S3). Thousand grain weight (TGW) was influenced by sowing date, harvest type, and their interaction, whilst mature harvest and later sowing date produced larger seed. Conclusions Our results showed the prospective use of camelina as a summer intermediate crop, and that the selection of the correct sowing time for the intended end-use is crucial for the successful proliferation of the crop. Our study demonstrated the impact of agronomic management on the field performance of a single spring camelina variety, demonstrating the value of incorporating management into typical genetic x environmental camelina germplasm evaluations.