Coal ash utilization for soil amendment to enhance water relations and turf growth. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998

OSTI ID:10140165

Adriano, D C; Weber, J T ^[1]

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1. Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC (United States)

A long-term (1993--96) field study assessed the effects of applying high rates of coal fly-ash as a soil amendment for the growth of the turf species, centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiroides). A Latin Square plot design was employed with a control (no ash applied), and 280, 560, and 1,120 Mg ha{sup {minus}1} (i.e., tonne/ha) application rates of unweathered baghouse fly-ash from a power station of the South Carolina Electric and Gas Company. The applied fly-ash was spread evenly over each plot area, rototilled, and allowed to weather for 8 months before seeding to centipedegrass. High levels of soluble salts, indicated by the electrical conductivity of the soil extracts, in tandem with the phytotoxic effect of B, apparently inhibited the initial plant establishment as shown by substantially lower germination counts in ashed soils. The plant height and root length, however, were not adversely affected, nor were the dry matter yields throughout the study period. Ash treatment did not significantly influence infiltration rate, bulk density, or temperature of the soil, but substantially improved its water holding capacity and plant available water. This enhanced water retention capacity apparently rendered the soil less droughty and improved the coherence and handling property of the harvested sod.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 10140165
• Report Number(s): EPRI-TR--111318; ON: UN99002851; NC: NONE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800
COAL
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLY ASH
GRAMINEAE
GROUND DISPOSAL
MOISTURE
PLANT GROWTH
SOILS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION