Research Progress Report 415
May, 1973

Fertilization of Crambe in Indiana, 1972 Trials
Russell K. Stivers, Agronomy Department

In early 1972, it was anticipated that Crambe might become a cash crop of limited use in Indiana. Information on fertilization obtained from Iowa and farther west* was considered inadequate for the soils and climate of Indiana. Therefore, research on fertilization of Crambe was initiated in Indiana.

PROCEDURE
Three fertilizer experiments with Crambe were conducted in 1972 on three widely differing soils --a Genesee sandy loam on the Charles and Paul Klein Farm near Vincennes (Knox Co.); a Vigo silt loam on the John Lane Farm near Brazil (Clay Co.); and a Milford silty clay loam on the Richard Crow Farm near Auburn (DeKalb Co.). Information about these soils and the cultural practices used is given in Table 1.
Breeders' seed of Crambe hispanica germinating approximately 90% was used at all three locations. Plants of the first seeding at the Genesee location were killed by a 21°F. frost on April 8, shortly after emergence. The experimental design used at all locations was a randomized complete block

*See Culture of Crambe, A New Industrial Oil Crop, Prod. Rpt. No. 95, A.R.S., U.S.D.A., 1966.

with four replications. There were 12 treatments per location on the Milford and Genesee soil locations, and 10 on the Vigo location.
Commercial sources of fertilizer were used for the treatments -- 33. 5% N ammonium nitrate, 45% P2O5 superphosphate and 60% K2O muriate of potash plus borax, manganese sulphate, zinc sulphate, copper sulphate and powdered sulphur. Since the herbicides used did not control weeds well on the Milford and Genesee locations, much hand cultivation was needed. Frequent rains (15 rainy days) often prevented timely cultivation at the Milford location. This soil received 12.23 inches of rainfall between planting and harvest, while 5.54 inches fell at the Genesee location, and 4.81 inches at the Vigo location.
Average yields of seed were 1611, 1444 and 1273 pounds per acre on the Milford, Genesee and Vigo locations, respectively.

RESULTS
Table 2 shows that significant differences (5% level) among N treatments occurred at all three locations, while differences among P treatments occurred at the Vigo and Milford locations, and among K treatments at the Vigo site. With crambe seed and N valued at 5 cents per pound,
P2O5 at 8 cents per pound and K20 at 3 cents

Agricultural Experiment Station, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, West Lafayette, Indiana