Oilseed intercropping system for intensified renewable diesel feedstock production
Research-driven agronomic solution that pairs soybean with canola or flax on the same acreage to increase total oil yield per acre for renewable diesel production. Combines legume and non-legume crops harvested together to boost productivity, reduce pest pressure, and lower the carbon footprint of biofuel feedstocks.
Overview
This solution investigates and validates agronomic practices for growing two oilseed crops together on the same land in a single season, targeting higher total oil output per acre than either crop grown alone. The primary combinations under study are soybean paired with canola and soybean paired with flax, both of which pair a high-yielding legume with a high oil-content non-legume. The objective is to strengthen the renewable diesel supply chain by maximizing oil productivity per acre, reducing feedstock carbon intensity, and maintaining or improving per-acre revenue for growers.
Technical specifications
Crop combinations and management approach:
- Legume and non-legume pairings including soybean with canola and soybean with flax
- Varieties selected with complementary maturities so both crops can be harvested in a single pass, minimizing field equipment trips
- Trials evaluate multiple seeding rate ratios to identify the best-performing treatment for each combination
- Common herbicides and insecticides labeled for both crops in each pairing are used for joint management
- Crops are separated post-harvest for individual yield, seed quality, and oil content assessment
- Combined oil yield in pounds per acre is reported alongside individual species performance
- Treatments are replicated four times with adequately sized plots and borders for accurate assessment
- A follow-on plant-back study is planned to evaluate effects on subsequent crops in rotation
Documented benefits from prior research at NDSU, Montana State University, and Canadian institutions:
- Per-acre productivity gains of up to 30 percent with correct management practices
- Reduced late-season weed density and lower foliar disease pressure in some crops
- Lower carbon footprint per gallon of renewable diesel through higher oil output per acre
- Sustained or improved per-acre revenue for farmers
Technology readiness level
The intercropping concept has been demonstrated by innovative growers in North Dakota and Montana, and supported by prior university research on related legume and non-legume pairings such as chickpea with flax and field pea with canola. Field studies are proposed for the 2024 growing season to generate the agronomic data needed to define best management practices specific to soybean with canola and soybean with flax combinations, including seeding rate ratios and harvest timing. A subsequent plant-back evaluation in 2025 would confirm rotation effects. The work is at the applied field-research stage, building toward validated best management practices that growers and renewable diesel supply chain partners can adopt.
About North Dakota State University (NDSU)
North Dakota State University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research university (R1) in Fargo with a pragmatic, industry‑engaged culture. Companies engage through an adjacent research and technology park offering incubator space and prototyping resources, and shared high‑performance computing supports data‑intensive work. Pilot‑scale processing facilities and co‑located labs in the Peltier Complex and the campus pilot plant help de‑risk scale‑up and validate manufacturing processes. A statewide Extension network provides access to field sites, stakeholders, and dissemination channels for real‑world testing and deployment. Research is backed by competitive federal funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and a dedicated technology transfer office streamlines IP, licensing, and startup formation.
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