The High Plains of the U.S.A. is subject to periodic drought where low-water using crops are desired. Camelina is a potential biofuel crop that may be suitable for this region. The objective was to determine the growth, seed yield, and oil characteristic of camelina exposed to four levels of applied water in western Nebraska. The cultivar Cheyenne was exposed to rain-fed only (RF), and irrigated with 10 (LI), 20 (MI), and 30 (HI) cm water. Irrigation increased plant growth as measured by canopy height, stem length, and canopy weight. Maximum height (70-80 cm) was reached by 10 weeks after planting (WAP) with a total of 23 cm of applied water or 13 cm of irrigation. By 13 WAP, canopy and pod fresh weights were increased by 40 to 50% by the MI and HI irrigations. Likewise, at harvest (13 WAP), plant dry weight was increased by 50% by the two higher irrigation levels. Seed yields were increased by each incremental increase in irrigation from 890 kg/ha for RF to 2540 for HI, a 2.85-fold increase. Oil content was not affected by irrigating at the LI or MI but was increased only by the HI irrigation level. The fatty acid profile was altered by irrigation with an increase in the major constituent, linolenic acid, and a corresponding decrease in two other large constituents, oleic and linoleic acids. There also was a slight increase in the minor constituent of erucic acid. The growth pattern of camelina showed that 23 cm of

a b s t r a c tDrought is a periodic occurrence in the High Plains of the U.S.A.; thereby low-water using crops are desired. Canola, a biofuel and food oil, has been studied in the region under rain-fed conditions for several years. The study's objective was to measure plant growth, seed yield, and oil characteristic of canola at four levels of applied water in western Nebraska. The cultivar Hyola 357 Magnum was exposed to rain-fed only (RF), and irrigated with 10 (LI), 20 (MI), and 30 (HI) cm water. Adding irrigation increased plant growth, i.e., canopy height, stem length, and canopy weight. Highest canopy height (>100 cm for MI and HI) was reached by 10 weeks after planting (WAP) with a total of 23 cm of applied water or 13 cm of irrigation. By 8 WAP, canopy fresh weight was increased by 37 to 58% by MI and HI irrigations. Pod fresh and dry weights at harvest (13 WAP) were increased >50% and >20%, respectively, by all irrigations. Seed yield were increased by each incremental increase in irrigation from 1220 kg/ha for RF to 2905 for HI, a 2.4-fold increase. Seed oil content was increased by MI and HI irrigations (4-8%). The fatty acid profile was not substantially altered by irrigation. There was a slight decrease of palmitic acid and increase in linolenic acid with HI. Canola showed that >20 cm of applied water is needed for good vine and pod growth but >40 cm was needed to achieve the highest yield. Canola could be grown successfully in western Nebraska, supplying oil for fuel and cooking.