THE BATTALION
MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1978
Page 5
Coming bac
With sand in the bottoms of suitcases, skinned
knees from rafting, and maybe a sore back
from working in the yard, the Aggies returned
from spring break Sunday. Dennis Delaune,
right, helps Patty Bell move back.
Battalion photo by Jana Hazlett
mad
parte
icatios
lal
ind, In
iment
most
mber
supp!
Petroculture — forerunner
to drought-resistant crops
Energy crops capable of produc
ing oil and rubber are the forerun
ners of a new agricultural study at
fexas A&M University.
The new agricultural field is
ailed petroculture.
Using crops that can be grown on
lemi-arid soils with little or no irri-
'ation, the plants are capable of
iroducing oil, rubber and lubricants
— even a replacement for sperm
icwnl vhale oil. Great interest is being
iliown here for three crops in par-
jcular: guayule (wy-oo-lee), jojoba
ho-ho-ba), and euphorbia (you-
bur-bia).
All are drpught-resistant plants
li^hich grow in the desert regions of
rs
[niany Southwest states, including
Texas.
“The strategic value of these new
J props is immeasurable to a nation
dependent on imports,” said Dr.
an Bragg, a Texas A&M industrial
conomist. “The first of the plants
that will be cultiviated on a large
Scale will probably be jojoba. ”
C IL ® ra §£ was P art a delegation of
V tvBpfttas A&M scientists testifying this
^W'eek before a special meeting of the
)ers Bexas House of Representatives
StatespSubcommittee on Alternate Energy
ources for Agriculture.
The jojoba seed resembles a small
reen olive. Approximately 60 per-
|ent of its weight is a light yellow,
dorless, liquid wax.
“This wax is almost identical to
sperm whale oil, a key industrial lu-
Kr:
; AM
irseiil
ired
esei
Texas
.tion
!V
ial e*?
Jricant,” said Bragg. Sperm whale
oil is used in automatic transmission
, jluids, electrical insulation and for
m | ?ther lubrication of precision in-
a ‘ ( 'ptniments.
I “ Since 1971, however, the sperm
sociat'lphale has been declared an
lEBDfndangered species and importation
o !.. 1 el its products into the United
: tooHtates has been forbidden,” Bragg
og'd{|
pern
said. “With that restriction, indus
try has been pressed hard to de
velop synthetic substitutes. As a re
sult, jojoba oil is much in demand.
Current world prices are about $5
per pound.”
In the late 1960s, about 44 million
pounds of sperm whale oil were im
ported by the United States each
year, he said.
Another plant showing a high de
gree of promise for future agricul
tural ecomonics is the guayule.
Guaylue produces rubber — rub
ber in quantities of 2 to 15 percent
of the plant’s dry weight. It is chem
ically and physically identical to that
produced by the Asian rubber tree.
Guayule grows wild in Southwest
Texas and northern Mexico.
‘‘When rubber supplies were cut
off during World War II, the United
States spent $45 million on the suc
cessful Emergency Rubber Project
developing guayule as a domestic
source of natural rubber,” said
Bragg.
‘‘However, in 1946, with renewed
availability of Asian rubber and the
development of synthetic rubber
made from low-cost petroleum, the
guayule project was dismantled,” he
said.
Conditions have changed consid
erably since World War II.
Prices of both synthetic and
natural rubber have soared. The se
curity of both products is more un
sure today than it has been since
1946, he added. The United States
in 1976 imported almost 700,000
tons of natural rubber, at a cost of
one-half billion dollars.
Any increase in the development
of guayule will have an effect in
lessening dependence on imports.
“Over half of our crude oil is im
ported, while all rubber comes from
countries with shaky governments,”
Bragg said.
“It’s been estimated that world
demand will outstrip consumption
in 1985 by as much as one million
tons,” he said. “This increased de
mand provides a golden opportunity
for crop diversification by farmers in
Texas and other Southwestern
states. ”
Another plant being studied is the
euphorbia. Called the “gasoline
tree,” the bush contains a latex simi
lar to crude oil.
In the wild, euphorbia will yield
two to 10 barrels of crude oil per
acre, at a cost of $3 to $10 per bar
rel, said the Texas A&M scientist. It
is possible genetic improvement
could raise this to as much as 10 to
50 barrels per year. It is a low-sulfur
product.
“This plant offers an opportunity
for the United States to grow its own
oil,” said Bragg. “However, the
magnitude of such an undertaking
would be staggering. An area the
size of Arizona would have to be cul
tivated with plants producing 40
barrels per acre to meet the needs of
the nation’s current gasoline re
quirements.
“It has advantages, too,” he said.
“Euphorbia is a renewable resource
that is under our own control, rather
than a foreign government. The
plant is a resource without lethal
hazards, such as radiation or air pol
lution. Finally, it uses land that is
not presently suitable for the prod
uction of food and fiber.”
!- NEED CASH? j
| Lou pays cash now for used books j
| & gives 20% more in trade.
I
I
I
jLoupot’s Bookstore
Northgate - Across from the Post Office
■rs of|
chan$
:0iTf
Tex**
i
CAREER SALES
Excellent future for responsible
:ales-oriented individual who enjoys
tctive contact with public. For per-
Tianent resident only, no travel. Ex
penses paid at home office training I
school plus training locally. Position
offers stable career with substantial
income and managerial opportunity.
Call Frank Novak At
846-2426 or 693-8754
Easter’s ^
Early!
Sunday,
March 26.,
Li
Remember
Hallmark Easter |
cards and party
items.
ARBROUGH'S
Downtown Bryan
205 N. Main
779-9363
Embrey’s Jewelry
We Specialize In
Aggie Rings.
Diamonds Set —
Sizing —
Reoxidizing —
All types watch/jewelry
Repair
Aggie Charge Accounts
9-5:30 846-5816
I4TT M-TTn I r 1 I I 11TTT11 M I Ml 1 mil I ! rTTV
►h
I-*
H
oz
Coke
(Monday, March 20 Only)
You Pay the Deposit (20c)
Order any 16
pizza
(except cheese) and receive
a FREE Quart of Coca-Cola.
846-7785
Quart of Coke With
any 16” pizza (except
cheese)
Name
Monday, March 20 Only
No Quart Cokes during our Happy Hour (5-7 p.m.)
H
M
h
H
H
M
M
H
Send one...Take one home.
Our FTD
Easter Basket'
Bouquet
Colorful spring flowers in
an embroidered woven
basket. We can
send it almost any
where to family or
friends—the FTD
way. Easter is March
26th. Call or
visit us now.
We also have
Hallmark cards
and Easter gifts.
We really get around ... for you! —
Aggieland Flower Shop
209 University Dr.
846-5825
lEAkTriliAN OAK*
APARTMENTS
ATTENTION APARTMENT HUNTERS!
SUMMER LEASES
“30% DISCOUNT”
You can SAVE up to $374.00 when you sign a
summer lease. Please come by today and see how
much we can help you save.
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No Escalation Clause or
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24 Hour Emergency
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Two Swimming Pools
Tennis Courts
Party/Meeting Room
Health Spas, including
Saunas for Men & Women
Three Laundry Rooms
Rental office open Monday through Friday 9-6
Saturday 10-5 Sunday 2-5
693-1110 1501 Hwy. 30 693-1011
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