Scope of bulk utilization of fly-ash in wasteland development and agriculture

摘要

The reduction of Aluminium from alumina by means of electrolysis is a power-consuming process.Coal based captive power plant requires coal to generate electricity, which produces flyash or coal ash as a by-product.Flyash is basically a ferrous alumino silicate and contain some macronutrients like sulphur, calcium, magnesium and micronutrients like copper, zinc, iron, manganese, boron, molybdenum etc.Flyash also has low bulk density and high water holding capacity.These properties make it a potential input material for supplying essential plant nutrients, modifying the physical properties of soil and saving irrigation water, thereby increasing the crop yields substantially.Thus, flyash has significant role to play in wasteland development and agriculture.The results from various experiments indicate that soil porosity has been increased in clayey soil and decreased in sandy soil, thus raising water holding capacity of soil.The application of coal ash modifies the soil texture from sandy to silty loam, which is more beneficial for agricultural purposes.The positive effects on soil-water-crop interactions in agriculture system resulted in the saving of irrigation water with the appropriate dose of flyash application.Various crops like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane, vegetables, commercial grasses, etc.have been grown on fly ash admixed soils.The results have shown that yield increase is noticed without affecting the quality of soil, ground water and food materials in terms of physical, chemical, heavy metals and radioactive parameters.These beneficial effects have been noticed on long term basis over a period of 6 years.Thus, flyash can directly contribute to increase food production as well as solving the environmental problems.