Management of Lignite Fly Ash for Improving Soil Fertility and Crop Productivity |
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Authors: | Lal C Ram Nishant K Srivastava Sangeet K Jha Awadhesh K Sinha Reginald E Masto Vetrivel A Selvi |
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Institution: | (1) Environmental Management Division, Central Fuel Research Institute, PO FRI (828108) Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India |
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Abstract: | Lignite fly ash (LFA), being alkaline and endowed with excellent pozzolanic properties, a silt loam texture, and plant nutrients,
has the potential to improve soil quality and productivity. Long-term field trials with groundnut, maize, and sun hemp were
carried out to study the effect of LFA on growth and yield. Before crop I was sown, LFA was applied at various doses with
and without press mud (an organic waste from the sugar industry, used as an amendment and source of nutrients). LFA with and
without press mud was also applied before crops III and V were cultivated. Chemical fertilizer, along with gypsum, humic acid,
and biofertilizer, was applied in all treatments, including the control. With one-time and repeat applications of LFA (with
and without press mud), yield increased significantly (7.0–89.0%) in relation to the control crop. The press mud enhanced
the yield (3.0–15.0%) with different LFA applications. The highest yield LFA dose was 200 t/ha for one-time and repeat applications,
the maximum yield being with crop III (combination treatment). One-time and repeat application of LFA (alone and in combination
with press mud) improved soil quality and the nutrient content of the produce. The highest dose of LFA (200 t/ha) with and
without press mud showed the best residual effects (eco-friendly increases in the yield of succeeding crops). Some increase
in trace- and heavy-metal contents and in the level of γ-emitters in soil and crop produce, but well within permissible limits,
was observed. Thus, LFA can be used on a large scale to boost soil fertility and productivity with no adverse effects on the
soil or crops, which may solve the problem of bulk disposal of fly ash in an eco-friendly manner. |
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Keywords: | Lignite fly ash Press mud Groundnut Maize Sun hemp Productivity Heavy metals Radioactivity |
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