Effect of Coal Smoke and Resulting Fly Ash on Site Quality and Radial Increment of White Oak

Coal smoke and resulting fly ash deposit on the soil surface affected the productivity of a northern West Virginia slope supporting a white oak stand. Coal-burning locomotives hauling cars up a steep railroad grade at the base of the slope were the source of the smoke. The ash depth exceeded one foo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Castanea 1973-12, Vol.38 (4), p.396-406
Main Authors: Ronald B. Stemple, Tryon, Earl H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coal
Coal fly ash
Engines
Fire damage
Fly ash
Forest soils
Locomotives
Smoke damage
Soil water
Tonnage
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Summary:Coal smoke and resulting fly ash deposit on the soil surface affected the productivity of a northern West Virginia slope supporting a white oak stand. Coal-burning locomotives hauling cars up a steep railroad grade at the base of the slope were the source of the smoke. The ash depth exceeded one foot on the lower slope, near the railroad tracks, and decreased with distance up the slope. Site index was only 30 on the lower slope and gradually increased to 42 at the top, a reversal of the normal situation. A pronounced annual ring pattern occurred in the white oaks which was caused by the smoke. The annual smoke pollution, as measured by coal tonnage hauled past the area, showed a strong negative relationship with ring width. A narrow annual ring was formed when smoke emission was heavy, and vice versa. The relative importance of fly ash depth and smoke in depressing growth could not be assessed.
ISSN:0008-7475
1938-4386