Effect of atmospheric emissions from the Widows Creek coal-fired power plant on yield of soybeans and wheat during 1977 and 1978

Technical Report · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5206341

Noggle, J C

The results of experiments conducted in 1977 and 1978 designed to measure the effect of emissions from coal-fired power plants on crop productivity are presented. The objective of this investigation was to characterize and quantify the relationship among sulfur dioxide (SO/sub 2/) exposure, visual symptoms of injury, and yield of crops that are economically important to the southeastern United States. Emphasis was placed on soybeans and wheat, representing a warm-season and a cool-season crop respectively. One objective of this investigation was to quantify the relationship between the amount of foliar injury resulting from SO/sub 2/ exposure and crop yield. During the two growing seasons, soybeans developed visual symptoms that were attributed to SO/sub 2/ injury in only one exposed plot in 1978 and wheat showed no visual injury from SO/sub 2/ exposure. A tall stack and SO/sub 2/ emission control devices were put into operation at the Widows Creek power plant after this experiment was sited on Sand Mountain. Ambient SO/sub 2/ concentrations were reduced, and acute SO/sub 2/ exposures to crops have been rare. The single observance of slight injury to soybean foliage and the complete lack of observable SO/sub 2/ injury symptoms on wheat have prevented quantification of the relationship between degree of foliar injury and yield. Soybean and wheat yields on plots exposed to SO/sub 2/ were not significantly different from those on plots with the air pollution exclusion system operating indicating that yield reductions did not occur without visual foliar injury and chronic exposure to SO/sub 2/ did not cause a reduction in crop yield under the conditions of this experiment.

• Research Organization: Tennessee Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, AL (USA). Div. of Natural Resources Services
• OSTI ID: 5206341
• Report Number(s): TVA/AQB-I-80-6; ON: DE82905001
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
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