Camelina organic cultivation experiences in Italy (OK-Net EcoFeed Practice abstract)

Summary in the original language of the document

A complementary source of feed for poultry, rich in pro-teins and specifically in sulphur containing amino acids, as well as omega 3 fatty acids, as well as omega 3 fatty acids and tocopherols. A new crop to be included into Northern Italy crop rotations, fitting organic farming practices and diversification needs.
Camelina fits well into crop rotations on organic farms in North-Eastern Italy (Figure 1), as it can be sown in October and harvested in late May/beginning of June, so allowing a second crop, after it, of soya bean.
It does not require high amounts of nutrients and, if it follows a cover crop with leguminous species or is sown in highly fertile soils, no specific inputs are required. No irrigation is needed. There are no diseases or pests affecting it. It is very resistant and will grow on marginal areas and sloping land.
It does not require specific machinery but, as the seed is extremely small (smaller than rapeseed), care at soil-bed preparation, drilling and harvesting is needed.
Key aspects for success:
• light soils with good drainage
• careful seed-bed preparation, seed should not be set deeper than 1 cm
• as the amount of seed per hectare is very small (about 7 kg depending on the variety) the seed drill should be appropriately set
• Camelina has a limited leaf development, that does not cover the soil, leaving space for weeds to grow (Fig-ure 2). Preventative weed management methods should be applied, for example stale seed-bed technique (Figure 3). Besides it stand with no damage one or two passages of weeder harrow after the plants are estab-lished and before the weeds are too developed (in Northern Italy conditions in March).