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- Title
Potential of Indian Fly ashes as Soil Ameliorant: State-of-the-Art.
- Authors
Ram, L. C.; Singh, Smriti; Masto, R. E.; Jha, S. K.; Tripathi, R. C.; Sinha, A. K.; Srivastava, N. K.; Selvi, V. A.
- Abstract
Application of fly ash, a huge solid waste from combustion of coal and lignite in thermal power plants (TPPs), based on its typical physico-chemical characteristics, as soil ameliorant is of much significance from the consideration of its disposal and gainful utilization, and hence the global attempt. These characteristics include pozzolanic property, low bulk density, high water holding capacity and porosity, predominance of silt-sized particles, alkaline nature, negligible solubility, reasonable plant nutrients content, etc. Due to variation in the characteristics of ash, soil types and agro-climatic conditions, correlating the effects of ash between different plant species and soil types is difficult. The literature suggests enormous potential of fly ash/pond ash alone and in combination with inorganic and organic amendments to improve cultivable, degraded/waste land, mine soil, landfills, and also to reclaim abandoned ash ponds through biological means, for agriculture and forestry. The toxicity concern, in general, is not of much concern for the reasons ashes being mostly alkaline, having the elements of concerns in oxide form, and their concentrations being within the limits prescribed for soil application of wastes. Arsenic in the ashes from few European countries with higher range than the prescribed limit may be of concern; in India, it is of least concern, especially when overall content of these elements is the minimum. In case of any toxicity, there is sufficient scope for combating the problem through combination treatments mainly with organic materials and phyto-remediation. Overall there is the requirement of the development of site-amendment-plant specific models. The Indian studies (lab scale, pot experiment, research farm, and field scale) are in general promising. In particular, the findings of long-term field trials by Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (Digwadih Campus) (erstwhile Central Fuel Research Institute), Dhanbad using the ashes from different TPPs alone and in combination with inorganic/organic amendments for growing of various crops/plant species in cultivable and problematic soils are encouraging, and being adopted by the farmers. The performances during combination treatments including biosolids are better as compared with ash alone application. As such the disposal problem of ashes can be solved gainfully in an eco-friendly manner, which needs accelerated extension programmes by the Central Government involving farmers and ash producers. However, continuous research in parallel for longer and longer duration to dispel the apprehension, if any, is desirable.
- Subjects
INDIA; FLY ash; SOLID waste; COAL-fired power plants; WASTE management; SOIL amendments; POZZUOLANAS
- Publication
Journal of Solid Waste Technology & Management, 2010, Vol 36, Issue 3, p710
- ISSN
1088-1697
- Publication type
Article