Camelina saliva (L.) Crantz is one of the most promising crops for biofuel production, which can be grown on less fertile soils than oilseed rape. To validate this proposition, research was carried out in the crop rotation of the Vezaiciai Branch of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture and Forestry during 2008-2009 on a Bathihypogleyi-Dystric Albeluvisol (ABd-gld-w). We explored the effects of nitrogen fertilisers (N(0), N(30), N(60), N(90) and N(120)), sowing time (as soon as soil conditions allow, 5 days later and 10 days later) and seed rates (6,8 and 10 kg ha(-1)) on Camelina seed yield and yield components. Camelina seed yield was found to depend on nitrogen fertilisation, sowing time and weather conditions. During 2008-2009, the seed yield of the Camelina variety 'Borowska' ranged from 0.38 t ha(-1) in unfertilised plots to 0.83 t ha(-1) in the plots applied with N(60). Nitrogen fertilisation increased the yield by 1.1-1.6 times (in 2008) and by 1.4-2.2 times (in 2009), compared to that in unfertilised plots. The highest seed yield (0.67 and 0.74 t ha(-1)) was achieved for the first (28 04 and 08 04) sowing date with a seed rate of 8 kg ha(-1), due to the highest number of plants m(-2) (in 2008) and the highest number of branches per plant and 1000 seed weight (in 2009). Increased seed rate did not cover the decrease in seed yield when sowing had been delayed. The relatively low Camelina seed yield in Western Lithuania region resulted from the unfavourable weather conditions, i.e. droughts which persisted throughout the spring season.
