Effect of Cadmium in Wood Ash on Spring Wheat Vitality: pot experiment

The reutilization of residues derived from the bio-energy processes in agriculture is important for more effective nutrient cycle in ecosystem. This study evaluated wood fly ash (WFA) as an agricultural soil supplement. Spring wheat was grown on two different soils amended with different ash rates. The aim of our study was to investigate long-term effects of Cd contained in WFA on spring wheat vitality and yield during 3 years of cumulative ash application. Cd concentration in samples was analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). WFA addition significantly decreased (p < 0.05) total Cd content in spring wheat, especially in the second experimental year and with increased WFA rate, probably because of increased soil pH and ash sorption ability caused by the ash addition. Grain yield was affected by the addition of ash at lower doses where we observed almost 100 % yield increase compared to untreated control and wheat straw showed the highest yields at the most ash enriched treatments growing in the last year. The risk of Cd contamination appears to be low, even from the long-term view and hence there are justifiable grounds for applying wood ash to the soil

Utilization of Coal and Biomass Ash

Sustainable utilization of the ash generated from the combustion of coal or biomass is a big challenge for the power industry. Huge quantities of ash are generated and, in general, they are disposed-off in ash ponds. However, recent regulatory requirements demand 100% utilization of ash. So many new areas of ash utilization are being explored by the researchers and ash managers. Bulk utilization sectors are cement industry, construction, bricks, landfill, mine back filling, and soil amendment for growing plants. Efforts to enhance the use in value-added low-volume sectors like fertilizer, cenosphere, catalyst support, zeolites, aerogels, and so on are continuously evolving. The heterogeneity of the ash properties is one of the main challenges for advocating a generalized utilization pattern of the ash. Biomass has some typical properties that limit its use for some sectors. However, beneficiation of both coal and biomass ash and use of other additives could improve the suitability of the ashes to multifarious uses