THE EFFECT OF ROCK SALT UPON ROADSIDE SUGAR MAPLES IN CONNECTICUT

INCREASING TRAFFIC AND PUBLIC DEMAND FOR ICE-FREE ROADS HAS LED TO INCREASED EMPLOYMENT OF ROCK SALT AND CALCIUM CHLORIDE FOR EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL DEICING OF ROADS. THESE RATES OF SALT APPLICATION, HOWEVER, ARE NOW SUSPECTED OF DAMAGING ROADSIDE VEGETATION. MEASUREMENTS ON TWO GROUPS OF SUGAR MAPLES WERE MADE TO ASSESS THE INFLUENCE OF SALT ON THE TREES AND ON TISSUE CONCENTRATIONS OF CHLORIDE, CALCIUM, POTASSIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND PHOSPHOROUS AND OF SODIUM. THE STUDIES REPORTED HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT TISSUE CONCENTRATIONS OF SODIUM AND CHLORIDE INCREASE WITH INCREASING EXPOSURE TO ROADSIDE DRAINAGE AND THAT EXPOSED TREES GENERALLY EXHIBIT MORE SEVERE SYMPTOMS OF DECLINING VIGOR AND CONTAIN LOWER CONCENTRATIONS OF SOME ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS IN THEIR TISSUE. CONCENTRATIONS OF SODIUM AND CHLORIDE IN THE SAP SUGGESTED CHLORIDE UPTAKE BY MAPLES IS NORMALLY SLIGHT, BUT MAY INCREASE MARKEDLY AT TIMES, POSSIBLY REFLECTING EXPOSURE TO RUNOFF OF BRINE IN LATE WINTER OR EARLY SPRING.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1967/161/161-012.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Paper sponsored by Committee on Roadside Development and presented at the 45th Annual Meeting. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Button, E F
  • Peaslee, D E
• Publication Date: 1967

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 121-131
• Monograph Title: Roadside development
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 161
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calcium chloride; Concentration (Chemistry); Deicers (Equipment); Drainage; Halite; Hardwoods; Measurement; Protection against environmental damage; Roadside; Runoff; Trees
• Uncontrolled Terms: Concentration; Deicers
• Old TRIS Terms: Maple wood; Tree damage
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218167
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-000 708
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 27 1994 12:00AM