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bioweb.sungrant.org » Technical » Biomass Resources » Agricultural Resources » New Crops » Oilseeds » Meadowfoam

Meadowfoam	Printer Friendly

Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba Benth.) is a low growing herbaceous winter annual adapted to poorly drained soils. It is native to northern California, southern Oregon, and Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Meadowfoam seeds contain 20 to 30% oil and over 90% of the oil contains fatty acids with 20 or 22 carbons including three previously unknown long chain fatty acids. The fatty acids in Meadowfoam are similar to those of industrial rapeseed (although not as saturated), and display heat and oxidative stability. Meadowfoam oil is currently used in the cosmetics industry and could be used in other industrial applications such as in lubricants, inks, detergents and plastics. The meal produced from oil extraction can be fed in quantities of up to 25% of the total dietary intake for beef cattle. Use of the meal for other livestock may require heat treatment to reduce glucosinolate levels (a compound toxic to many animals). Meadowfoam meal and extracts are currently being tested as a biopesticide for potatoes.   Meadowfoam yields in research plots have been as high as 2000 kg/hectare (1780 lb/acre) of seed, but under commercial field conditions, seed yields of around 750 lb/acre are more typical due largely to disease and pollination problems. It is currently produced on about 2000 acres in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, usually in rotation with grass seed production.   Meadowfoam is insect pollinated and efforts are underway to develop self-pollinated varieties. It has a low tolerance to water stress and is well adapted to the cool wet Mediterranean climates found in the Pacific Northwest. In this area, Meadowfoam is typically planted in October (when soil temperatures are below 60◦F) at a plant density of 3 to 4 plants/square foot (seeding rates of 15 to 40 lbs/acre). Shallow seed drilling is recommended over broadcast seeding. Recommended fertilizer rates are 40 to 60 lb N/acre, 20 lb P2O5/ac when soil tests indicate low phosphorous levels (10 to 20 parts per million P), and 20 to 30 lb K2O/acre when soil tests indicate low potassium levels (80 to 100 parts per million K). Meadowfoam is susceptible to the fungus Botrytis cinerea.   Meadowfoam is harvested with the same equipment used in grass seed production and generally involves swathing followed by combining, but direct combining harvest is being evaluated. Preliminary results indicate lower seed loss with direct combining, but direct combining requires very low moisture content of the stems, leaves, and seeds.   Attempts to grow Meadowfoam in areas other than the Pacific Northwest have been undertaken. In the 1998-1999 growing season, 120 acres of Meadowfoam were grown in Virginia. Seeds yields of up to 800 lbs/acre (with oil content of 21 to 25% of the dry weight; 93% long chain fatty acids) were achieved. Recommended management practices include planting 25 lbs seed/acre and adding 30 to 40 lbs N/acre. Development of cultivars adapted to the area and appropriate management practices to enhance its commercial potential are needed.

References
Dan Burden, Meadowfoam, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University, November 2003. E.A. Oelke, E.S. Oplinger, C.V. Hanson, and K.A. Kelling, Meadowfoam, Alternative Field Crops, University of Wisconsin,  October 1990 H.L. Bhardway, M. Rangappa, and A.A. Hamama, 1999,  Establishment of meadowfoam as a new crop in Virginia, In Perspectives on new crops and new uses, J. Janick (ed.), ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA, pp. 237-238. Richard J. Roseberg, 1996, Underexploited temperate industrial and fiber crops, In Progress in New Crops, J.Janick (ed.), ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA, pp. 60-84. Harbans L. Bhardwaj, 2001, Introduction and establishment of Meadowfoam as a new crop in Virginia—lessons learned, 2001, Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops Annual Conference on New Crops and New Uses, Atlanta, GA, November 10-13, 2001. Joliff, G.D. and G.D. Hoffman, 2002, Meadowfoam industry update, In: Trends in new crops and new uses, J.Janick and A. Whipkey (eds), ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA, pp. 192-200. F.E. Bolton, D.F. Grabe, J.M. Crane, C. Garbacik, and D. Ehrensing, 1989, Harvest methods study in Meadowfoam, Oregon State University.