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Clean air essential for good citrus

Journal Article · · West. Fruit Grower; (United States)
OSTI ID:6129477

Research studies show that various types of air pollutants seriously hamper citrus production. Yields and fruit quality are often poor. Trees along a highway are smaller and produce fewer fruits than those growing 3 or 4 rows within the orchard. The amount of noxious gases along roadways may contain CO at 40 ppm, acetylene at 0.4 ppm, ethylene at 0.5 ppm, total hydrocarbons at 3.0 ppm, and oxides of nitrogen at 0.6 ppm. Usually a 50% reduction in contaminants appears 10 tree rows away from the road, but clean air may not be found for 100 rows. Sulfur dioxide damages the leaves of a wide variety of plants at concentrations below 1.0 ppm after only a few hours exposure. Ozone causes significant injury to citrus leaves. During periods of aggravated air pollution, ozone may be 20 times natural concentrations and is ten times that of clean air. The effects of atmospheric fluorides upon growth and production in lemon, orange, and grapefruit have been investigated. Results indicate that growth was suppressed and leaves and trunks of trees were smaller than trees grown in clean air.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Riverside
OSTI ID:
6129477
Journal Information:
West. Fruit Grower; (United States), Journal Name: West. Fruit Grower; (United States) Vol. 1:6; ISSN WEFGA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English