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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #208663
Title: Particle size distribution of PM emitted from cotton harvesting

Author
item Wanjura, John
item PARNELL, JR., C - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item SHAW, B - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item CAPAREDA, S - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2005
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Agricultural operations are coming under increased scrutiny from air pollution regulators in several regions of the US. Regulators in some states are beginning to regulate the fugitive emissions from field operations. Cotton harvesting is one of the field operations that regulators include in emissions inventories. Previous efforts to develop emission factors for cotton harvesting have not included any investigation into quantifying the particle size distribution (PSD) of the particulate matter emitted. An accurate characterization of the PSD of the dust emitted from cotton harvesting operations will help regulators to determine the true fraction of the emitted dust that is PM10 or PM2.5. In addition, a correction factor for FRM PM10 and PM2.5 sampler concentrations can be made if the PSD of the sampled dust is known. This paper will describe the results of an analysis of the PSDs from seed cotton samples taken from several areas around the state of Texas. The impact of harvester type, geographic location, soil type, and management practices on the resulting PSDs of the fine dust from the seed cotton samples will be reported.