To explore the possibility of using coal ash as soil modifier and nutrients supplier for upgrading soil for its use in agriculture purpose and to improve the productivity, Regional Research Laboratory, Bhopal has carried out extensive lab scale and pilot scale experiments.

 

These studies indicate that coal ash contains micro and macro nutrients and also improves physical and morphological properties of the soil. Water retention capacity of soil, together with release of nutrient elements such as Ca, Mg, S, K, P, Cu and Zn have increased considerably by admixing appropriate quantity of coal ash with soil.

 

The process has been successfully implemented on large scale in various parts of the country such as NTPC, Rihand Nagar (Uttar Pradesh), NALCO, Angul & Damanjodi (Orissa) and MPEB, Sarni (Madhya Pradesh) with the financial support by the respective industry and Fly Ash Mission, TIFAC, DST, New Delhi.

 

Crops, such as wheat, paddy, maize, sunflower, sugar cane, tomato, potato, cabbage, pea, carrot, onion, okra, berseem, aromatic and medicinal plants have been grown in wasteland soil and soil treated with coal ash.

 

These crops were tested to check the consumer acceptability / toxic elements uptake and it was found heavy metals uptake are within the permissible limits and meet the food quality standards.

 

Usage of coal ash for wasteland development improves the soil fertility, enhances the plant growth, increases the crop yield and saves irrigation water without affecting the food quality.

 

*Source: Brochure on Coal Ash Utilisation - Expertise and Facilities, Regional Research Laboratory,   

               Bhopal, 2004.

 

 

 

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