Wind Power on Farms for Better Crops

Wind provides a great source of renewable energy. Besides this obvious benefit, researchers now say that wind turbines installed on farms might actually improve the quality of crops.

The usage of wind power has expanded significantly over the last ten years, allowing experts to draw up a pertinent conclusion regarding their impact on harvests, National Geographic informs.

As a traditional agricultural practice, farmers worldwide have planted trees surrounding the fields to slow down the wind and mix up the air.

The same actions can be performed in an efficient manner by wind turbines, according to researchers.

Moreover, the movement of the wind blades enables crops to reach to an increased amount of CO2 from the air, essential for their development, since "the job of corn is to take up as much CO2 as it can," according to Eugene Takle, an agricultural meteorologist from the Iowa State University.

Also, the permanent movement of the blades can also prevent a series of diseases that usually affect crop quality, by decreasing the amount of dew spotted on leaves at night time.

Such an advantage would definitely improve the profit margins obtained by farming communities.

Iowa would definitely display encouraging result, since it ranks second in a list of American states adopting wind power.

At the same time, the air in Iowa has become more humid as a result of climate change, therefore the amount of dew has increased and the diseases moist triggers have become more frequent.

Another good news is that wind turbines could lower the speed of wind and make the temperatures more appropriate, favoring crop development.

Even under these conditions, experts say the potential effects of wind turbines placed on farms may vary, depending on the particularities of the region, but firmly believe that the overall result is positive and their presence should be welcomed by American farmers.