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9 Effects of Salty Water on Crop Yields t;.) c.o t;.) "'1 Table 5 shows the yields for the annual crops at Huntington in 1981. The potato yields on the salty plots were markedly lower than on the fresh plots. For the late potatoes (Figure l), the average yields of the salty plot on irrigation levels 4-6 were 46 percent of the fresh plot. For the early potatoes, the average yields for the salty plot for irrigation levels 4-6 were 49 percent of the fresh plot. Figure 2 shows the 1981 yield reduction was slightly less than 1980. In the 1980 report there was concern expressed that the yield reduction found, especially in pota.toes, may have caused some Itacidll type material used in cleaning at the power plant. Efforts were made in The corn trials were limited to one plot that was not damaged by 1981 to minimize this possibility of irrigating when such water was entering the pond and did not have time to mix well (which should neutralize it). In addition, a plot was established on potatoes where sheet metal covers were placed on the rows during irrigation to keep the water off the foliage and funnel it to the soil where it could be neutral- ized before plant uptake. This plot did not look different than the other salty plots nor was there as much foliar burn of the potatoes as in 1980. The yields on the covered plot, for irrigation levels 4-6, were 53 percent of those of the fresh plot. Since this yield is essentially the same as found for the uncovered plots, we conclude we did not have anything in the irrigation water, while we were irrigating in 1981, that reduced yield because of foliar burn. livestock in 1981. These data indicate an average yield on the salty