The purpose of this style of blog is to bring to light potentially under-used or under researched energy and biofuel crops. I will write a brief introduction about the particular crop and then provide additional web resources pertaining to the plant. The plant to spotlight in this blog is: Meadowfoam.

Meadowfoam is an annual crop sown in winter or spring. It is native to the Pacific Northwest from Vancouver, British Columbia to Northern California. This plant creates oilseeds that are 20% to 30% oil. Research has shown that meadowfoam oil is over 90% C₂₀ to C₂₂ fatty acids. This means that it is more stable at higher temperatures and is therefore a good choice as a lubricant. Meadowfoam oil can be chemically transformed into a liquid wax ester that is a substitute for sperm whale oil and jojoba oil. Meadowfoam oil can also be converted to a light colored premium grade solid wax, which is potentially valuable to the rubber industry, or used as a lubricant, detergent or plasticizer. Researchers at Oregon State University have suggested that grass seed farmers could plant meadowfoam in the fall, just like grass or winter grains, using the same equipment. They could harvest it in June, swathing it in rows, and let it dry on the ground and come pick it up, just like grass or grain. And a year's rotation from grass seed to another kind of crop reduced the risk of disease buildup and grassy weeds

The time of year to sow meadowfoam is in the winter or early spring. It is important to utilize the cooler soil temperature in order to prevent secondary dormancy in the seed. Meadowfoam can tolerate all types of soils. It is a crop particularly suited for soils with poor drainage as it can remain submerged underwater for months provided a sufficient number of leaves can extend above the water surface. Although the plant can survive in deep water, growth will suffer if there is not ample solar exposure.

Meadowfoam is easily water stressed, and a drought during growth will cause a severe or total yield loss. During the month of July meadowfoam needs to remain warm and dry to allow insect pollination. Once pollinated, flowering is onset by spring/summer drought and temperature. The plant suffers from poor pollination if conditions are cool and damp at flowering (June/July) since insects do not fly in such conditions.

Effective harvest of meadowfoam is reported to occur one week before maturity (at the end of summer). When meadowfoam is swathed it is best to do it in the morning in order to prevent the seed from shattering. About 7-10 days later the swathed meadowfoam run through a combine. Test plots in Oregon reported recorded seed production 800-1300 lbs/acre.

To read more about meadowfoam check-out the following links:

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/meadowfoam.html

http://www.agmrc.org/agmrc/commodity/grainsoilseeds/meadowfoam/

http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/periodicals/cses/1998-03/1998-03-02.html

http://www.meadowfoam.com/background.htm