Lesquerella fendleri response to different sowing dates in northern Mexico

Abstract Lesquerella fendleri (Gray) Wats. is a Brassicaceae native to northern Mexico and southern United States. The seeds contain an oil similar to castor oil that may be used for a wide array of industrial products. The U.S. imports 41,000 t of castor oil per year. Thus, Lesquerella oil may be an economic replacement for castor oil. The Mexican growers in the semiarid lands have the potential for cultivating Lesquerella if the crop can be grown in the native regions. The object of this study is to determine the effect of sowing date on seed yield and oil content in Lesquerella grown at Saltillo located in northern Mexico. The plants were sown at three different dates (23 October 2003, 16 December 2003, and 17 March 2004) and harvested in 2004 on 15 May, 24 June, and 27 August, respectively. Irrigation was applied for germination and seedling establishment and to maintain soil moisture. The experimental design was a complete randomized block design with eight replications. Plant morphological variables as well as yield characteristics were measured and related to sowing dates and climatic conditions. The longer period for crop development was due to shorter photoperiod. Plant densities were highest when the crop was sown in December and March, although the densities of three sown dates were within the reported limit for high yield. Seed yield was highest when the crop was sown in December and the oil content increased in the March planting when the mean temperature during seed formation was highest. Infrared spectra of the seeds crude extracts showed different functional groups that varied with climatic conditions.