Effects of acid deposition on agricultural production
A preliminary assessment, both qualitative and quantitative, was carried out on the effects of acid deposition on agriculture. An inventory was made of US crops exposed to different acid deposition levels in 1982. Most crops (valued at more than $50 billion) were exposed to annual average acid deposition levels greater than pH 4.6, but crops worth more than $220 billion were exposed to even lower pH levels. Published results of experiments on crop response to acid deposition have not identified any single crop as being consistently sensitive, and suggest that present levels of acidic precipitation in the US are not significantly affecting growth and yield of crops. Because relatively few experiments appropriate to a quantitative acid deposition assessment have been conducted, the quantitative section is necessarily based on a restricted data set. Corn, potatoes, and soybeans have been studied in experimental environments which simulate agronomic conditions and which have adequate statistical power for yield estimates; only some varieties of soybeans have demonstrated statistically significant sensitivity to acid deposition.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- OSTI ID:
- 6039921
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-51889; ON: DE86006756
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Comparison of yields of several cultivars of field-grown soybeans exposed to simulated acidic rainfalls
Yield Responses of Field-Grown Soybeans Exposed to Simulated Acid Rain
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ACID RAIN
ECONOMIC IMPACT
CROPS
PRODUCTIVITY
SOILS
ACIDIFICATION
AGRICULTURE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
MAIZE
NAPAP
POTATOES
SOYBEANS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CEREALS
ECOSYSTEMS
FOOD
GRASS
INDUSTRY
PLANTS
RAIN
TUBERS
VEGETABLES
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560303 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety