Economic and environmental analyses of incorporating guar into the American southwest

Persistent drought is affecting the livelihood of American farmers in arid climates. Adopting drought-tolerant crops, such as guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.), one potential solution for improving economic revenue and reducing effect on farms. Guar produces gum, which a thickening stabilizing agent fluids used most recently hydraulic fracking shale oil gas recovery. This study was performed to investigate environmental feasibility cultivating Southwest transporting it domestic processing facility primary product gum. An integrated techno-economic (TEA) life cycle analysis (LCA) cradle-to-gate process producing gum supply United States. TEA performance farm downstream production facility. Similarly, LCA investigated impact Baseline results indicate minimum selling price $1.44 per kg-guar driven largely by irrigation, herbicides associated equipment use. A best case scenario where irrigation fertilizers were removed, low-cost less intensive land management practices adopted, highlights being produced low $0.45 lower than five-year average U.S. import $0.99 Environmental impacts are attributed agricultural The indicator, global warming potential, resulted farm-level emissions 1160 hectare grown. combined farm, transportation processes 2.67 kg CO2eq or 806 hectare, due co-product credit animal feed. that can be prices. growing would lead existing crops when cultivated Southwest.