Emerging issues and concerns for vegetation and plant growth responses to fly ash: A Review

Abstract

Coal combustion in thermal power plant, generates a molten mineral residue  known as fly ash, which consists of  various types of elements such as Se, Sr, Mo, Na, Zn, Ca, Mn, V, Sb, Mg, Fe, S, K and P.  Since, fly ash contains macronutrients and trace elements it can be used in agriculture sector to improve the productivity of crops and vegetation. Although it possesses beneficial trace elements and macronutrients, it also possesses heavy metals such as Pb, As, Hg, Cr, Cd, Ni, Co, Cu and Boron. Presence of Boron and heavy metals such as As and Hg are of major concern since these heavy metals & Boron impart toxicity to plants and vegetation in long run. In this regard, an exhaustive review is undertaken on issues and concerns for plant and vegetation growth responses to fly ash. Besides this, beneficial & detrimental impacts of fly ash application on plant growth and vegetation, impact of fly ash on heavy metal uptake by plants and toxicity to plants with respect to Boron, Mercury, Arsenic and radioactive elements are also discussed in this article.