**Plant Applications for Improving Air Quality**

Air quality affects each of us every day, but is often given little
thought unless it is noticeably poor. Dismal air quality is observed
when smog looms over large metropolitan areas, soil blows off a farm
field or newly constructed subdivision, or a foul odor escapes a factory
or animal feeding operation.

Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), ambient air quality standards are set by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the following six
major criteria air pollutants: particulate matter (PM), ground level
ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead, with
particulate matter and ground level ozone as the criteria air pollutants
of greatest concern for agricultural operations.

The need to address these air pollutants is more critical than ever. Air
quality can be improved by using plants to:

-   Reduce particulate matter from wind erosion,

-   Manage particulate matter, ammonia, and odor coming from
    concentrated animal facilities, and

-   Increase carbon sequestration.

![Wind erosion can cause serious air quality
problems.](media/image3.jpeg){width="3.1318897637795278in"
height="2.350787401574803in"}Grasses and other vegetation help to hold
soil in place and reduce airborne particulate matter in areas that may
be subject to wind erosion. Long-term plantings can provide high rates
of carbon sequestration in soil. Windbreaks and shelterbelts are useful
in reducing wind speeds; the management of PM emissions from field
operations; and the management, interception, and dispersion of PM,
odor, and ammonia emissions from animal facilities. Windbreaks and
shelterbelts also provide a great means to sequester carbon and provide
wildlife habitat.

![Trees are used to buffer emissions from poultry
operations.](media/image4.jpeg){width="2.854330708661417in"
height="2.177165354330709in"}

The NRCS Plant Materials Centers located throughout the country provide
effective plant solutions for air quality concerns.

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="1.3618055555555555in"
height="1.7444444444444445in"}The Cape May Plant Materials Center in New
Jersey continues to test native grasses to stabilize sand dunes along
the eastern states coastline to lessen the impact of extreme coastal
winds. This helps improve air quality by reducing wind-driven
particulate matter in coastal communities.

The Colorado Plant Materials Center tests and maintains foundation seed
for 'Arriba' western wheatgrass (*Pascopyrum smithii*). 'Arriba' has
been used in seed mixtures on hundreds of thousands of Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP) acres since the mid to late 1980s to control
blowing soil in eastern Colorado. NRCS National Resources Inventory
(NRI) data indicates evidence that tens of millions of tons of soil were
prevented from entering the atmosphere as fugitive dust because of the
ground cover that western wheatgrass and other plant materials released
by the NRCS Plant Materials Program provided these CRP acres.

![](media/image6.jpeg){width="3.203472222222222in"
height="2.176388888888889in"}

The Big Flats (NY) Plant Materials Center is cooperating with a
Pennsylvania windbreak working group studying trees and shrubs to be
planted near poultry production facilities to mitigate odor and
particulate matter.

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="1.64375in"
height="1.8576388888888888in"}The Kansas Plant Materials Center is
evaluating hackberry (*Celtis spp.*) and oak (*Quercus spp.*) tree
species for windbreaks to protect highways, crop fields, and
subdivisions from wind erosion. The Idaho Plant Materials Center is
conducting similar studies. Windbreaks can provide protection to
adjacent fields, structures, and roads for up to 15 times the height of
the tallest tree in the windbreak.

![](media/image8.jpeg){width="3.1194444444444445in" height="2.23125in"}A
plant specialist at the New Mexico Plant Materials Center measures big
sacaton (*Sporobolus* *wrightii*) for use in arid climates as a tall,
herbaceous grass barrier to trap abrasive soil particles that are
transported by wind. Herbaceous wind barriers provide producers an
economical means to protect fragile or specialty crop seedlings.