Low-input and drought-tolerant guar crops could improve wheat production, according to American scientists

Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife are studying the benefits of guar, a drought-tolerant, low-input crop, in crop rotation in the Southern Great Plains. The project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, aims to enhance the sustainability of wheat cropping systems by improving guar production and nitrogen-fixing qualities. The long-term goal is to increase and stabilize U.S. guar production while reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. The researchers are also exploring the potential of guar to improve wheat yield and consider the genetic basis of nitrogen fixation in guar. Despite the potential benefits, guar has not been widely adopted by farmers due to cheap international production since 2014 and high fertilizer prices. However, research is being conducted to develop guidelines for evaluating guar for crop damage and yield potential, which could potentially increase U.S. production.