Prospects of Bulk Utilization of Fly Ash in Agriculture for Integrated Nutrient Management

Abstract

Flyash is a pulverized product from thermal power plants generated by the burningof coal. It is categorized as high volume low effect waste under HazardousWaste (Management and Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules 2008. So farseveral uses of fly ash have been developed viz. substitute of cement inconcrete, land filling, mine filling, agriculture, etc. Practically fly ashconsists of all the elements present in soil except organic carbon and nitrogen.Thus, it has a great potential material with manifold advantages inagriculture. Fly ash is known to improve physico-chemical properties of soilthat supports the crop production. However, utilization of fly ash inagriculture requires region-wise extensive trials to identify suitable dose fora particular soil. For the bulk utilization of fly ash in agriculture, astrategy to strengthen the linkages between government agencies, thermal powerplants and farmers is foremost. This paper elucidates the prospects of bulkutilization of fly ash in agriculture.