Wood Ash as Soil Liming Material

Abstract

Abstract Elemental content was determined for ash of Prunus serotina J.F. Ehrh. (black cherry), Celtis occidentalis L. (hackberry), Quercus rubra L. (red oak), and Q. alba L. (white oak), plus a mixture of species containing Pinus (pine), Picea (spruce), and Malus spp. (apple). Ash from the 4 species averaged 26% Ca, 7.0% K, 1% P and smaller amounts of Mg, Mn, Fe, B, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Al, and Na. The species mixture was lower in Ca and K but higher in most of the other elements. The effective calcium carbonate equivalent (total neutralizing power or TNP) of the wood ash ranged from 83% (mixed species) to 116% (red oak). Increased rates of application of wood ash increased soil pH. No significant effects of wood ash applied to soil were found on germination, leaf area, leaf number, plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, yield, or leaf tissue elemental analysis of snapbean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at 2400-9700 kg/ha.