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Abstract: Crambe (Crambe abssynica Hoechst) is a winter crop, with high oil content and used as a feedstock for biodiesel production. This study was conducted in 2010 and 2011 at Umuarama County, State Parana, aiming to determine the effects of doses of potassium (0, 15, 30, 60 and 90kgha−1) on grain yield, oil yield, oil content and plant population. This study used four replications of randomized blocks. The increase of K2O levels resulted in higher grain and oil yield per hectare in the first year, but seed oil content and plant population were not influenced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Crambe is a crop winter, with high oil content, function as a source of raw material for the biodiesel production. This crop deserves attention agriculture because the short cycle ranging from 90 to 100 days. A portable chlorophyll-content meter for proportional estimate determinations (SPAD-502 indices) allows instant readings, and may be ideal to predict N requirements, since the method used in the laboratory is time-consuming and destructive. Consequently, this work''s objective was to evaluate the relationship between chlorophyll meter readings and total N contents in leaves of crambe plants, at the stage prior to flowering, as affected by topdressing N levels. This work was conducted in Umuarama Municipal District – Paraná State, Brazil. Variables analyzed were SPAD index values (chlorophyll) in leaves, as measured with the chlorophyll meter, and total N content. The data were submitted to analysis of variance, means comparison, polynomial regression, and simple linear correlation analyses. The results showed that: nitrogen topdressing applied did not affect the chlorophyll and nitrogen in crambe leaves. There was no significant correlation between chlorophyll and leaf nitrogen meaning on crambe crop, during the full flowering. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Crambe (Crambe abssynica Hoechst) is an oilseed crop belonging to the Brassicaceae family, with high oil content, and thus a material for biodiesel production. This study was conducted in 2010 and 2011 at Umuarama County, State Parana, aiming to determine the effects of doses of phosphorus (0, 15, 30, 60 and 90kgha−1) on grain yield and oil content. A completely randomized block design with four replications was adopted. Increased doses of P2O5 resulted in higher grain yield but the seed oil content was not influenced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights • Evaluation soybean, linseed and crambe biodiesel blend in a diesel engine. • The possibility of using biodiesel–diesel fuel blends at different oilseeds. • Linseed biodiesel provides increased engine power. • Crambe biodiesel reduced CO, CO 2 and NOx emissions. Abstract In Brazil, rural communities apart from large centers, distant from energy transmission and distribution grids, need electric energy, and this situation renders it difficult to ensure local economic progress. One alternative to solve the problem is energy generation using vegetal-oil-based fuels, made of local raw materials that are renewable and have a lower impact on the environment. The objective of the present work was to assess the performance and emissions of a diesel engine for energy generation that operated with soybean, linseed, and crambe vegetal-oil-based fuels. The fuels were tested in a 5-kVA generator engine at a load from 750 W to 3000 W. Biofuels were obtained from a mixture of conventional diesel oil with soybean, linseed, and crambe oil at incremental levels of 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% of vegetal oil in the fuel mixture composition. The increase in soybean oil proportion at low load (750 W) resulted in lower specific consumption. At a high load (3000 W), there was a reduction in specific consumption when compared to conventional diesel fuels. Crambe biodiesel resulted in a reduction in emissions of CO, CO 2 , and NOx as function of the increase in crambe oil in the proportion. The results of these studies indicate that conventional diesel blends with low (10%) and medium (30%) concentrations of soybean, linseed, and crambe vegetal oil are viable technical solutions for the partial substitution of conventional diesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safflower ( Carthamus tinctorius L.) has gained importance as an oilseed crop due to its hardiness and oil, which can be used in the production of biofuels. Studying proper crop management methods is highly important for the development of safflower in Brazil, since applying fertilizers correctly and using the appropriate time are efficient ways to achieve higher yield. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate safflower yield components, seed yield and oil content in two growing seasons. Two experiments under dryland conditions were conducted in 2014 in Cascavel, PR, Brazil. A randomised complete block design with three replications was used. Five rates of NPK fertilizer were used (0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 kg ha −1 of N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O formula 4-14-8) in two growing seasons (autumn and winter). Even in a Rhodic Acrudox with high concentrations of P and K, the application of NPK fertilizer in the furrow improved seed yield and oil yield in the autumnal growing season. Safflower seed yield averaged 2068 and 3820 kg ha −1 in autumn and winter, respectively. The application of NPK fertilizer to safflower in the autumnal growing season significantly increased oil content (23.9%). The linear plateau model predicted increased yield with NPK rates <652 kg and <610 NPK ha −1 , resulting in seed yield and oil yield of approximately 4374 kg ha −1 and 1048 kg ha −1 , respectively. Safflower seems promising as an alternative oilseed crop for Southern Brazil when seeded in autumn with basic fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cover crops and soil management had no influence on crambe oil content. • Cover crops, chiseling and no-tillage did not affect crambe oil yield. • Crambe presents rusticity for marginal soils. Soil compaction on no-tillage (NT) system is one of the main problems for sustainable grains production in clay soils. However, some Brassicas, such as crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst), may show tolerance to moderately-compacted soils. The objective of this study was evaluate the effect of cover crops and chiseling on the soil physical properties, grain yield and oil content of crambe. Five summer cover crops, pear millet (Pennisetum americanum), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), sunn hemp (Crotalaria spectabilis), and velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) and two soil management systems (chiseling and no-tillage) were evaluated for three years in Brazil. Chiseling soil management decreased soil bulk density and increased total porosity, but chiseling had short-term effects on soil physical properties (12 months). Cover crops showed no difference regarding the effects on soil physical properties. The traditional no-tillage system presented higher soil bulk density and lower total porosity, which did not affect crambe grain and oil yield. Crambe presented expected grain and oil yield regardless of the adopted management and cover crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]