Family: Limnanthaceae
Genus: Limnanthes
Species: alba
(i) General background on the plant
Meadowfoam is a small herbaceous winter-spring annual. It originates from upland pasture in northern California and southern Oregon, and is endemic to North America. The name is derived from the typical white blooming canopy of plants which give the image of a white foam covering the soil. It grows in a rosette from which flowering stems arise in late winter/early spring. The plant is short, 20-30 cm. Leaves are pinnately dissected with entire incisely toothed, lobed, or parted stems.The fibrous root system normally penetrates to a depth of 150 cm. Termination of vegetative growth is temperature sensitive. Flowering is related to onset of late spring and summer drought and temperature, hence flowering and maturity can vary from year to year [1].
Over a 16 day period the plant produces masses of white flowers - an estimated 5.5 million flowers/ha daily over the 16 days. The flowers are protandrous by 1 to 3 days. Honey bees are the primary pollinators. Nectar production is however low.
Each flower can produce a 5 seeded nutlet, but 2-3 seeds is the norm [1].
(ii) Details of quality characters
The oil content of L. alba seed varies depending on where the crop is grown:
Oregon 29-32%
California 16-24%
Maryland 18-27% [1]
The oil is of high quality and of a composition similar to that of the sperm whale, but in its raw state is green and smelly and needs refining. A technique has been devised for this [2]. The seed oil has the highest content of C20:1, C22:1 and C22:2 fatty acids of any seed oil [1, 3].
Overall contents: Oil : 18-32% of seed, Protein : 16-25% of seed.
The meal produced after crushing has a fibre content of 22% and protein content of 25%. The glucosinolate content of the meal is 105 mm/g - far too high for feeding to livestock. The amino acid content is similar to rape seed.
(iii) Current production and yields
Very variable - between 0.3 - 1.3 t/ha, with an average of around 0.8t/ha [1,2].
(iv) Constraints on production
L.alba is an entomophilous species and suffers from poor pollination if conditions are cool and damp at flowering (June/July) in northern Europe, since insects do not fly in such conditions. This has hampered European development.
The major requirement is the development of cultivars capable of consistent field performance, specifically self-pollination, taller and more vigorous plants, shatter resistant, higher seed and oil yield. Recent breeding work has concentrated on hybridisation with related species to introduce specific improvements.
Meadowfoam is very susceptible to Botrytis cinerea - commercial crops were devastated during the 1982/83 and 1983/84 growing seasons. The disease is encouraged by high nitrogen application and dense plant populations. Control with vinclozolin at 40-50% bloom. Presence of Sclerotinia (undefined species) has also been reported to reduce yield.
Harvesting: Harvesting is a major problem due to the shortness of the crop and excessive seed shatter. Time of harvest is also critical, best yields being obtained by harvesting one week before maturity. Normal commercial technique is to swathe when 90% of seeds are mature and plant stems are greenish-yellow in colour and still pliable. Swathing in the early morning helps to reduce shatter. The windrow is combined 7-10 days later when moisture content of seed is 12-16%.
(v) Markets and market potential
Uses are similar to Jojoba. American experience shows meadowfoam to produce a large proportion of its oils as C20 or C22 chains. These have considerable potential in production of synthetic rubbers, lubricating oils and perhaps polymers. However, oil price will need to be competitive with that of oils from high erucic rape seed, crambe and honesty.
(vi) Other information
Optimal planting date early-mid October, seed rate 23 kg/ha, drilling depth : 3-8 mm.
Optimal population: 400 plants/m2 - low populations produce prostrate plants, difficult to harvest, high populations lead to lodging.
Narrow row widths produce quicker ground cover. Meadowfoam is quite susceptible to competition from weeds as a young plant, once established dense stands provide good weed control.
Broad-leaved weed control: Only propachlor at 4.4-6.6 kg AI/ha proved safe to the crop and produced adequate broad-leaved weed control and diclofop at 1.1-2.2 kg AI/ha gave good control of grass weeds.
Meadowfoam is tolerant of standing water for several months, providing a sufficient number of leaves can grow above the water surface. The crop can therefore be grown on poorly drained soils in areas of high winter rainfall. Drought occurring at any stage is likely to result in severe or total yield loss.
See the following pages in the NF-2000 Database
AGRE-0046 - Vegetable Oil for Innovation in Chemical Industries VOICI
FAIR-PL97-3884 - CTVO-NET Chemical-technical utilisation of vegetable oils
Crops for Pharmaceuticals/Cosmetics
(vii) Contacts
Springdale Crop Synergies Ltd,
Mr Clifford Spencer, Springdale Crop Synergies
Ltd, Rudston, Driffield, East
Yorkshire, YO25 4DJ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1262 421100
Website: www.springdale-group.com
(viii) References
1. Toward a UK Research Strategy for alternative crops. Published by Silsoe Research Institute July 1994.
2. Combinable alternative crops. Sells; J. E.; (1989) AFRC Institute of Engineering Research, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedford, MK45 4HS.
3. New Crops for Temperate Regions. Edited by Anthony, K. R. M.; Meadley, J. & Röbbelen, G. ; Published by Chapman and Hall 1993.
4. Askew M.F. 1993. Novel oil, fibre and protein crops in UK. A future perspective. In Brighton Crop Protection Conference 6A-2 pp 658.