The Prospects Of Fly Ash Utilization As A Source Of Soil Amendment And Its Effects On Properties Of Soil- A Review

Abstract

Fly ash, a coal combustion residue collected from flue stacks of coal burning power plants, is generally disposed near the thermal power plant. Disposal of fly ash on land using faulty practices causes land degradation and soil erosion. To use fly ash in environmentally sound manner, the most possible and suitable option is to use it as a soil amendment as it improves the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of soil due to its pozzolonic nature. As it is rich in macronutrients and trace elements it can be utilized as a soil ameliorant to recover the soil characteristics & fertility of degraded lands. Its alkaline nature and silt size particles make it a suitable additive for degraded land. It improves texture & water holding capacity of degraded land because of presence of silt sized particles. It increases moisture retention & available water capacity in degraded soils. Besides this, as a soil additive it can be used in wasteland reclamation, reclamation of acidic mine spoil and to enhance carbon sequestration on degraded land. This article explores possibilities of utilization of fly ash as a source of soil amendment in various attributes and its effects on various characteristics of soil.