The Briefing Room

General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Energy => Topic started by: Smokin Joe on July 12, 2016, 11:52:22 pm

Title: Expert: Falling power plant emissions reduces corn nutrient
Post by: Smokin Joe on July 12, 2016, 11:52:22 pm


http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2016/07/expert-falling-power-plant-emissions-reduces-corn-nutrient.html?eid=290980193&bid=1458845 (http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2016/07/expert-falling-power-plant-emissions-reduces-corn-nutrient.html?eid=290980193&bid=1458845)
July 11, 2016
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — An Indiana agricultural expert says declining power plant emissions are apparently reducing the amount of an important nutrient corn plants get through rainfall.

Purdue Extension soil fertility specialist Jim Camberato says Indiana's rainfall used to contain a lot of sulfur from coal-fired power plant emissions.

But he says the amount of sulfur reaching corn through rainfall or the air has fallen to the point where plants are now apparently not getting enough ...

Excerpt: read more at...
http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2016/07/expert-falling-power-plant-emissions-reduces-corn-nutrient.html?eid=290980193&bid=1458845 (http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2016/07/expert-falling-power-plant-emissions-reduces-corn-nutrient.html?eid=290980193&bid=1458845)
Title: Re: Expert: Falling power plant emissions reduces corn nutrient
Post by: Smokin Joe on July 12, 2016, 11:53:48 pm
Posted here because between coal emissions standards and diesel fuel sulfur reductions...

Now they are making it harder to grow corn to make ethanol.

I love unintended consequences. :chairbang:
Title: Re: Expert: Falling power plant emissions reduces corn nutrient
Post by: thackney on July 13, 2016, 12:24:39 pm
Quote from: Smokin Joe on July 12, 2016, 11:52:22 pm
Purdue Extension soil fertility specialist Jim Camberato says Indiana's rainfall used to contain a lot of sulfur from coal-fired power plant emissions.

But he says the amount of sulfur reaching corn through rainfall or the air has fallen to the point where plants are now apparently not getting enough ...

I remember the "acid rain" scares that killed a lot of midwest coal mining.  My family was one of the ones greatly impacted by the shutdowns.  I'm the oldest on my Dad's side not to work in a coal mine.
Title: Re: Expert: Falling power plant emissions reduces corn nutrient
Post by: Smokin Joe on July 13, 2016, 12:32:36 pm
Quote from: thackney on July 13, 2016, 12:24:39 pm
I remember the "acid rain" scares that killed a lot of midwest coal mining.  My family was one of the ones greatly impacted by the shutdowns.  I'm the oldest on my Dad's side not to work in a coal mine.
If you really want to have a hard time growing crops, have soil that is too alkaline.

I do find the unintended consequences to be ironic, though.

Some coal mines are shutting down. Equipment is sold off for dimes on the dollar. Those jobs have been lost, and now more bad results.

I'm the only one in my family in the energy sector.