Influence of soil-applied coal combustion by-products on growth and elemental composition of annual ryegrass

The total annual production of coal combustion by-products in the USA is expected to exceed 150 million Mg by the year 2000. Agricultural utilisation may offer a partial solution to disposal problems, but the benefits and risks associated with using these materials must be assessed. Four coal combustion by-products, bed ash (BA) and fly ash (FA) from a fluidised-bed combustion furnace and stabilised scrubber sludge (SS) and a high gypsum content by-product (G) from flue gas desulphurisation processes were added to two soils at rates of 0, 20, 40 and 80 g kg-1. The growth and elemental composition of Gulf annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) were evaluated in the treated soils. Adding FA, SS and G to both soils at application rates of up to 80 g kg-1 was not detrimental to the growth of ryegrass and resulted in higher yields than controls in some instances. Adding BA created a high alkalinity, high soluble-salt environment that initially inhibited seedling germination and significantly reduced (p<0.05) yields of dry matter, so it will probably need to be restricted to rates of lime requirement. Ryegrass concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr were similar in control and treated soils, but levels of B, Se, As and Mo were raised in treatments. Based on low trace-element concentrations in ryegrass shoots and in soil solution, Se from FA application may be the only potential food-chain risk associated with application of the four coal combustion by-products used in this investigation.