Crop Cultivation I Introduction to Oilseed

Subject: Crop

Unit 1.1: Crop Production and management | Crop Cultivation

Introduction to Oilseed

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………1
2. Production………………………………………………………………………………..2
3. Production in Nepal……………………………………………………………………..3
4. Importance of Oilseed………….…………………………………………………….4
5. Production Limitation of Oilseed…………………………………………………..5
6. Enhancement of Oilseed Production……..………………………………………6

Introduction

Oilseeds are a crucial part of semi-tropical and tropical agriculture because they offer easy accessibility and incredibly nutrient-dense sustenance for both people and animals. Oil is extracted from the seeds of oil-seed crops to use the oil that is present in them. Different oilseed crops have varying oil contents, ranging from 20% for soybean to 40% for sunflowers, etc. Both industrial and culinary uses of seed oils exist. Soybean, sunflower, Brassica, mustard, coconut, oil palm, rapeseed, peanuts, rice, and cotton is some of the most important oilseed crops in the world. Among the different oilseed crops, soybean, sesame, safflower, sunflower, peanut, and castor are the most popular. Due to their economic significance, oilseed crops are grown all over the world and are regarded as crucial crops.

Production

The genetics of oilseed crops are extremely diverse.   The conditioning and drying step is one of the most crucial ones in the production of oilseeds after the seeds have been washed and gathered. The process of growing oilseeds changes as per the oilseed corps’ genetic variation for example A 100–140 day growing season with warm temperatures is necessary for soybeans. The average daily global oil production in 2021 was 77,043,680 barrels from which Industrial vegetable oils have a wide range of uses although their global production accounts for just approximately 3% of that of edible oils. The oil is extracted from the oilseed plant basically with two common oilseed extraction processes they are:

• Solvent Extraction:

By mixing oilseeds with a liquid solvent, oil is preferentially extracted, which is referred to as solvent extraction. The best method for extracting oil from oilseeds is solvent extraction as it is more efficient. The pretreatment of the oilseeds before extraction, the temperature, the mode of operation, and the equipment design all affect effectiveness. After commercial solvent extraction, there should be less than 1% of oil left in the grain.

• Mechanical Oil Extraction:

The horizontal screw of the mechanical screw press has a body diameter that increases as it moves along the length of the press, applying pressure to the oilseeds as it does so, and it is supplied vertically. Slots run the length of the barrel that surrounds the screw, enabling the rising internal pressure to first release air and subsequently drain the oil via the barrel. The de-oiled cake is ejected at the end of the screw after the oil has been collected in a trough under the screw. The screw press’s key benefit is that it enables continuous oil extraction while processing vast amounts of oilseeds with little work. 

Production in Nepal

Oilseed crop farming in Nepal totaled 217,867 hectares in 2015–16, producing 208,291 tons at a yield of 956 kg per hectare. The country of Nepal produced 211.700 metric tons of oil seeds in 2017, according to data. From the previous figure of 211.100 Metric Ton Th for 2016, this is an increase. With 43 observations covering the period of Jul 1975 to Jul 2017, there has been a yearly average update of the Nepal Production: Cash Crops: Oil Seeds data. The statistics peaked in 2017 at 211.700 metric tons, and it hit a record low of 61.000 tons in 1977. Among the other promising oilseed crops grown in Nepalese farmland, rapeseed (Brassica campestral var. toria) dominates (85% of the total cultivable acreage). Nine varieties of oilseed crops are grown in Nepal. The following plant species are among them:

• Groundnut (Arachis hypogea) 
•  Mustard (Brassica juncea) (Arachis hypogea) 
• soy beans (Glycine max) 
• Marigold (Helianthus annuus) 
• Saffron (Carthamus tinctorius)
•  Linseed (Linum usitatissimum)
•  Sesame (Sesamum orientale)
• Rapeseed (Brassica campestris)
•  Nigerseed (Guizotia abyssinica)

Importance of Oilseed

Currently, it is vital to swap out the petrochemicals that are being utilized with renewable resources due to ecological damage and financial restraints. These renewable resources are readily available on a global scale in the form of agronomic biomass in addition to agricultural trash. Some oilseed crops can serve as the preferred feedstock for the production of biofuels because they are not involved in the creation of food sources. Thlaspi arvense (pennycress), Camelina sativa (camelina), and Brassica carinata are some oilseed plants that can be used for the production of biofuels.

Oilseed crops are the most important crops in the food industry for nutrition and health since they have enriched nutritional value. Oilseed crops with high protein content are a source of food for both people and animals because they are useful sources of carbohydrates, vital fatty acids, vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as 18 necessary amino acids, trace elements, and other nutrients. To supply cooking and vegetable oil, oilseed crops are required.

Production Limitation of Oilseed

More than 70% of oilseed crops are produced in rain-fed conditions, making them more vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stressors. Due to the high risk and limited resources faced by farmers in rain-fed locations, these crops are cultivated with the bare minimum of inputs. Another barrier to raising the productivity of these crops is the high seed rate and cost of seeds, as well as the lack of hybrids for major oilseeds like groundnut and soybean. The availability of cheaper imported oil creates an external price shock that is a significant barrier for this sector. In addition to these limitations, another limitation is the difficulty in obtaining high-quality seed and the expensive cost of hybrid seed, which produces better results. For poor nations like Nepal, production technology is also a significant limitation.

Enhancement of Oilseed Production

Oilseed plants are an extremely valuable agricultural product. Extending irrigation systems, using moisture-conserving practices like the use of mulching(a protective layer (such as sawdust, compost, or paper) spread or kept on the ground to control weeds, prevent erosion, keep a consistent soil temperature, and enrich the soil), timely weed control, seed selection and proper seed rate, timing, and method of planting seeds, varietal selection, and crop rotation, trying to raise heat- and drought-resistant variants, integrating micronutrient planning using Rhizobium culture, seed culturing with Rhizobium culture, integrated pest management, and intercropping are the main strategies that will help increase oilseed production.