ARS | Publication request: FLY ASH ORGANIC BYPRODUCT MIXTURE AS SOIL AMENDMENTS

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: January 28, 2006
Publication Date: June 1, 2006
Citation: Sajwan, K.S., Paramasivam, S., Alva, A.K., Sahi, S.V. 2006. Fly ash organic byproduct mixture as soil amendments. In: Viable Methods of Soil and Water Pollution Monitoring, Protection and Remediation. I.Twardowska, H.E. Allen, and M.M. Haggblom, eds. NATO Science Series Book, Springer Publishers, Netherlands.

Technical Abstract: Greenhouse studies were conducted to assess the potential of fly ash-organic waste co-disposal to enhance crop production. Two pot experiments, one using Sorghum Sudangrass (Sorghum vulgaris) and other using Collard greens (Brassica olreraceae) were conducted under greenhouse conditions. In addition, a leaching experiment was also conducted to assess the leaching potential of selected heavy metals from fly ash sewage sludge amended soils. The results indicated that biomass production of Sorghum Sudangrass was significantly increased up to 247 Mg/ha with application of FA:SS mixture. However, the Collard greens biomass significantly increased only with application of FA:SS mixture up to 49.7 Mg/ha. The elemental uptake showed the similar pattern for both Sorghum sudangrass and Collard Greens. The leaching study indicated that increased application rates of amendments (either alone or as mixtures) resulted in increased leaching of metals. Therefore, low to moderate rates of FA:SS mixture (1:1 ratio) could be successfully used as soil amendments.