Benefits of Adding Camelina to Rainfed Crop Rotation in Iran: A Crop with High Drought Tolerance

Oilseeds, as an important part of industrial crops, are among the products that spend billions of dollars annually to meet their needs in Iran. Conventional oilseeds such as soybean, rapeseed and sunflower, despite their many benefits, are products that require high water consumption to produce them. Therefore, the introduction of a new oilseed crop that can have an economical and satisfactory yield in drought conditions and rainfed lands, can be an effective and key solution in this regard. This is the exact situation that farmers welcome the cultivation of a new crop. Camelina oilseed has many properties and applications. From a nutrition and health point of view, its oil contains high amounts of omega-3, which helps prevent cancer and obesity. In industry, it is used as a biofuel, in the production of resins, waxes, as well as in the production of cosmetics, health and pharmaceuticals. This crop has advantages over rapeseed, including the low need for water and nutrients, adaptation to adverse environmental conditions and resistance to pests. Camelina is a crop that can adapt to cold and dry environmental conditions and is also found in warm areas. The plant can also tolerate drought stress in the early growing season. Studies show that camelina is a crop that can be economically viable in rainfed areas or during supplementary irrigation. Preliminary experiments in Iran have shown that camelina cultivation can be well developed in rainfed areas and will largely meet the country's need for oilseeds.