Wind turbines in farm fields may be doing more than churning
out renewable energy. According to
research conducted by Gene Takle, professor of agricultural meteorology and
director of the Climate Science Program at Iowa State University, and his
colleague Julie Lundquist, with the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic
Sciences, at the University of Colorado at Boulder, wind turbines produce measurable effects on the micro-climate near crops.
The slow-moving turbine blades bath the crops below with
increased airflow, which help corn and soybean crops stay cooler and dryer,
help them fend off fungal infestations and improve their ability to extract
growth-enhancing carbon dioxide from the air and soil.
“Our laser instruments could detect a beautiful plume of
increased turbulence that persisted even a quarter-mile downwind of a turbine.”
“The turbulence resulting from wind
turbines may speed up natural exchange processes between crop plants and the
lower atmosphere.”
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| Researchers take temperature measurements on corn leaves |
Crops warm up when the sun shines on them, and some of that
heat is given off to the atmosphere. Extra air turbulence speeds up this heat
exchange, so crops stay slightly cooler during hot days. On cold nights,
turbulence stirs the lower atmosphere and keeps nighttime temperatures around
the crops warmer.
“We anticipate turbines’ effects are good in the spring and
fall because they would keep the crop a little warmer and help prevent a
frost,” said Takle. “Wind turbines could possibly ward off early fall frosts
and extend the growing season.”
Other benefits of wind turbines result from their effects on
crop moisture levels. Extra turbulence can help dry the dew that settles on
plants beginning in late afternoon, minimizing the amount of time fungi and
toxins can grow on plant leaves. Additionally, drier crops at harvest help
farmers reduce the cost of artificially drying corn or soybeans.
Another benefit to crops is that increased airflows could
enable corn and soybean plants to more readily extract atmospheric CO2, a
needed “fuel” for crops. The extra turbulence might also pump extra CO2 from
the soil. Both results could facilitate the crops ability to perform
photosynthesis.
“We anticipate the impact of wind turbines to be subtle, but
under certain circumstances the effects could be significant,” said Takle.
“When you think about a summer with a string of 105-degree days, extra wind
turbulence from wind turbines might be helpful. If turbines can bring the temperature down
below 100 degrees, that could be a big help for crops.”
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