Spring Camelina sativa – Perspective cultivation as biofuel feedstock in Slovakia

Abstract

Camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz], alternative low/medium-input oilseed crop, has variety of uses with biofuel production being at the forefront as its exploitation is primarily determined by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from feedstock production. The primary aim of the paper was to examine the possibilities of sustainable conventional and temporary intensification of prospective camelina cultivation as a biofuel raw material. Because camelina is still not commercially grown in Slovakia, oil flax yields and environmental demands were used as benchmark. Within conventional intensification, greenhouse gas emissions from its intended cultivation were compared with real emissions from oilseed rape cultivation. Inputs (especially N-fertilizers) and oilseed yields were investigated as two factors which significantly affected the amount of emissions from cultivation. Almost all of assumed camelina yields and nutrient rates combinations achieved lower total emissions compared with oilseed rape. This was mainly due to lower values from N2O emissions category and emissions from fertilizers category which accounted for a major share of emissions from cultivation. It can be concluded, that camelina could be suitable raw material for biofuel production. The set-aside land (fields) in Slovakia, which accounted for more than 40,000 ha, creates a potential space for a temporal intensification of camelina cultivation.