—Lancaster Firming, Saturday, February 17,1979 124 Farm crops COLLEGE PARK, Bid. - Corn and soybean plants are highly sensitive to the air borne chloride salts expelled by power plant cooling towers using brackish water, according to a recent study by the Water Resources Research headquartered at the University of Maryland in College Park. But tobacco crops in the same study showed slight Increases in yield from salt drift at very low levels. Dr. Charles L. Mulchi and James A. Armbruster, agronomists for the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, made these observations after simulating salt drift from a cooling tower operating at maximum design capability. Dr. Mulchi, the project leader, is an associate professor of agronomy at the University of Maryland, and Armbuster is a research STEEL BELTED RADIAL SPECIALS White Wall Blems ★ FREE MOUNTING, FREE BALANCING ON PASSENGER TIRES ★ assistant working on his Ph. D. degree. Their simulation ex periment was conducted at the University of Maryland tobacco research farm, located four miles north of Upper Marlboro. The Maryland researchers confirmed their findings with similar data from on site investigations near the Potomac Electric Power Company plant at Chalk Point, located 30 miles southeastward, on the western shore of the Patuxent river in the southeast comer of Prince Georges county. Center, Some varieties of corn and soybeans appear more sensitive to salt drift than others, says Dr. Mulchi. He and other crop researchers found that soybean plants have an ability to partially recover from salt damage as they mature. (Soybeans have a similar ability for *30.78 *33.74 *34.74 *39.19 AR7Bxl3 0R78&14 ER7BxI4 FR7Bxl4 8R78x15 GR7Bxls HR7Bxls LR7Bxls F.E.T. From $1.87 to $3.34 From cooling towers , studied recovery from mild pesticide bum.) The Maryland research indicated that both com and soybeans could withstand maximum power plant operation if the salt' drift rates remained below 7 pounds per acre per month. Surprisingly, tobacco crops exhibited , increased yield when exposed to 2.5 pounds of salt drift per month. In addition to the slight yield increase, small amounts of choloride generally do, not affect tobacco quality adversely, Dr. Mulchi commented. But exposure to total chloride from chloride salts in amounts greater than 2.5 pounds per acre per month was found to alter physical and chemical properties of Maryland ’ tobacco ad versely. These changes m quality index, burn, and filling capacity have been asociated with "chloride *30.94 *40.54 *41,83 *44,60 for salt drift effects additions and consequent lower average offering prices by buyers. In fact, companies which regularly purchase Maryland tobacco strongly oppose even slight increases in chloride content. Dr. Mulchi noted. For the cooling tower simulation study at the University of Maryland tobacco farm, ' the agricultural experiment station research workers applied 100-micron droplets of brackish water to the plants with a portable sprayer rig. This water had a salinity content of 15 to 25 parts per thousand. KEEP THESE DATES OPEN MARCH 5 thru 10 ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE ANU PIO ROAST FARMERSVILLE rd4Ephrata;pa. MIDDLE CREEK HOG FEEDERS • Creosote treated bottoms. • Top made of exterior grade 3 A " plywood, bolted together at corners. • Wood edges protected with metal to prevent chewing. • Agitators to prevent feed from setting. • Adjusting plates to control feed flow^ • Trough front tapered 45° to eliminate hard to reach corners and feed spoilage. • Priced very reasonable. • Standard model Is 52" high. • Also 32" model for confinement operations using auger systems. • 4 to 24 hples made to your specific needs. 20 Hole *333.00 DANIEL R, STOLTZFUS RDI, Box 187, Canan Grove Rd. Newmanstown, Pa. 17073 (Lebanon Co.) 2 Miles east of Schaefferstown on Rt. 897 to Kleinfeltersville. Then V* mile south on Hopeland Rd. at corner of Canan Grove Rd. Adjacent to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. Applications were made five days per week for eight weeks on com, soybeans and tobacco. Water was obtained from PEPCO cooling tower No. 3, in operation 35 miles away by road at Chalk Point, and from solutions of pure sodium „ chloride f orumulated at the farm. The electrical power generating plant at Chalk Point lies near a mile-wide section of the brackish Patuxent river, near the junction of Maryland’s four leading tobacco-producing counties - St. Marys to the south, Charles on the west, Prince Georges to the north INC. PHONE: 717-354-4271 16 Hole 12 Hole *272.00 *213.00 Prices include Lids. Manufactured and Sold By and Calvert, across the river to the east. In January 1971, the Potomac Electric Power Company petitioned the Maryland Public Service Commission for a license to (Turn to Page 125) I BARN PAINTING I y Call Us Now I i? For Free I fl Estimates _ | % PHARESS. HURST g & RDI, Box 420 1 Narvon, Pa. 17555 % ® 215-445-6186 § J EQUIPMENT
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers