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Title: Economic and engineering evaluation of plant oils as a diesel fuel. Final report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6610124· OSTI ID:6610124

The annual total yield of plant oils in the US is about 3.7 billion gallons. Diesel use by agriculture is about 2.0 billion gallons annually and is growing rapidly relative to gasoline use. Based on these amounts, plant oils could satisfy agriculture's diesel fuel requirements during the near future. However, diversion of large quantities of plant oils for such purposes would have dramatic impacts on plant oil prices and be reflected in numerous adjustments throughout agriculture and other sectors of the economy. The competitive position of sunflowers for plant oil production in Texas was analyzed. In those regions with a cotton alternative, sunflowers were not, for the most part, economically competitive. However, sunflower production is competitive with grain sorghum in certain cases. To develop a meaningful production base for oilseed crops in Texas, yields need to be improved or increases in oilseed prices relative to cotton must take place. This implies some limitations for the potential of Texas to produce large quantities of plant oils.

Research Organization:
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station (USA)
OSTI ID:
6610124
Report Number(s):
TENRAC/EDF-065; ON: DE83900805
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English