Camelina and pennycress are two annual oil-producing plant species that have recently gained attention as biofuel feedstock crops. A double-cropping system is proposed to facilitate sustainable production. Prior to commercial cultivation, information on the plant's breeding and pollination system is required to ensure production and proper management. We conducted pollination experiments and observed flower visitors in an experimental double-cropping system in Germany. Furthermore, effects of cultivation on biodiversity were studied. We assessed the above-ground invertebrate diversity of camelina and pennycress cultivation in comparison to a fallow and a commonly used cover crop cultivation.
The pollination experiment revealed that common camelina varieties were mainly self pollinated. Yield of one variety seemed to benefit from insect visitation. Pennycress was dominantly wind pollinated. Camelina showed higher overall visitation rates by insects than pennycress. Flies and wild bees visited both crop species, but honey bees only camelina. We conclude that both oil crop species produce yield without pollinators but offer foraging resources for different insect taxa at times when few other crops and native plants are blooming. Hence, we do not expect the suggested double-cropping system to disrupt wild pollinator diversity and their interactions with other plant species.