Adapted Oilseed Crops with the Ability to Grow Economically in Dryland Conditions in Iran

Water is a valuable and irreplaceable natural resource and plays an important role in development, which is one of the most important components in producing and maintaining the balance and stability of ecosystems and environment. The average annual rainfall in Iran is one third of the global average rainfall (about ۲۵۰ mm) and its evapotranspiration potential is three times the global potential. Therefore, Iran is in the group of arid and semi-arid countries. Nowadays, the vegetable oil production industry is considered a strategic industry in most countries of the world. In Iran, there are large arable lands and favorable fields for growing oilseeds. However, according to available statistics, more than ۸۵-۹۰% of the required oil is still supplied from abroad. Common oilseeds such as soybean, sunflower and canola, despite their many advantages, are limited in various aspects of cultivation and climatic conditions.  For example, soybean is an ideal crop in the North American corn belt and is not well adapted to other regions. Sunflower also need a lot of fertilizer and is susceptible to a variety of diseases and pests. Therefore, the need for new oil crops with more adaptation and fewer needs is strongly felt. In recent years, the planting of new oilseeds in drylands has attracted a lot of attention. The most important advantage of these crops is the high resistance to drought and spring cold. In this paper, three of these crops (safflower, camelina and dragon's head) are mentioned, which are hoped to enter the country's dryland crop rotation.

Keywords:

Oilseed , Dryland , Safflower , Camelina , Dragon's head