Approximately 260 million tonne of coal is consumed per annum by 82 utility thermal power plants (TPPs) in India (2003-04). It constitutes nearly 70 per cent of the total power generation, which, in turn, produced 108 million tonne of fly ash per annum. The annual generation of fly ash is projected to exceed 175 million tonne per annum by 2012 (considering the plans to double the power generation over next 10 years). This large volume of fly ash occupies large area of land and possesses threat to environment. As such, there is an urgent and imperative need to adapt technologies for gainful utilisation & safe management of fly ashes on sustainable basis.

Agriculture and waste land management have emerged as prime bulk utilisation areas for flyash in the country.

The field demonstration experiments carried out under varied agro-climatic conditions and soil types across the county by various R&D Institutes / Universities on the cultivation of different field crops (cereals, pulses, oil seeds, sugar cane, vegetables, etc.) and forestry species with different doses of fly ash and pond ash as soil modifier I source of economical plant nutrients with and without organic manure bio-fertiliser and chemical fertilizers in respect to crop yield, soil health, quality of crop produce, uptake of nutrients and toxic heavy metals, ground water quality etc. have revealed the following:

¨ it improves permeability status of soil

¨ improves fertility status of soil (soil health) I crop yield

¨ improves soil texture

¨ reduces bulk density of soil

¨ improves water holding capacity I porosity

¨ optimizes pH value

¨ improves soil aeration

¨ reduces crust formation

¨ provides micro nutrients like Fe, Zn, Cu, Mo, B, Mn etc.

¨ provides macro nutrients like K, P, Ca, Mg, S etc.

¨ works as a part substitute of gypsum for reclamation of saline alkali soil and lime for reclamation of acidic soils

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