Phenological growth stages of Camelina sativa according to the extended BBCH scale

Abstract

Camelina sativa is an alternative oilseed crop that is shown to be adaptable to marginal areas and suitable for low-input cultivation. Moreover, the species shows a good productivity and interesting agronomic features. As a result of particular characteristics, the oil produced by this species has been shown to be suitable for many food and non-food applications. Despite the interesting characteristics of this plant, a detailed description of the phenological growth stages of C. sativa has never been performed. A precise and univocal description of the different growth stages of this crop will provide a useful tool for several agronomic and research activities. In this article, the description of the phenological development of C. sativa is proposed utilising the extended BBCH (Biologische Bundesantalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie) scale (Meier et al., 2009). The different phenological growth stages are described, utilising both the two- and three-digit BBCH coding system. This article is supplemented by drawings of the most representative stages.