Crambe Adaptation

Crambe is a cool-season crop that is well adapted to environmental conditions in North Dakota. Crambe requires an average of 48-50 days between planting and flowering. The flowering period usually ends about 12 to 15 days before physiological maturity. Present cultivars of crambe require 85-100 days from date of planting to reach physiological maturity. Crambe is well adapted to fertile, well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Crambe seed is moderately tolerant to saline soils during germination over a range of soil temperatures of 50 to 86 degrees F. As soil temperatures decrease below 50 degrees F. in saline soils, crambe seed germination rate decreases. Established crambe plants are similar to wheat in saline soil tolerance.

Crambe is best suited to silt-loam soils that do not crust. Soils that have potential for crusting problems need to be managed carefully to prevent emergence problems. If a harrow or rotary hoe is used to break up soil crusting, crambe stands can be severely reduced if the seedling hypocotyl arch is near the soil surface or the seedlings have emerged. Use of an empty press drill across a crusted soil has been successful in breaking the crust and minimizing crambe stand losses.

While crambe requires adequate soil moisture for flowering, podset and filling, a dry period as the plant approaches maturity is beneficial. Crambe's tolerance to drought conditions is equal to or slightly less than small grains. It is more drought tolerant than corn, canola, mustard, or soybean at all stages of growth.