Influence of coal ash from fluidized-bed combustion and EM-1 preparation on the content of Fe and Mn in spring wheat and barley

Abstract

The object of the research was to analyze the influence of coal ash from fluidized-bed combustion applied to light soil, and combined with the microbiological preparation Effective Microorganisms (EM-1), on changes of the iron and manganese content in cultivated plants of spring wheat and spring barley. Commissioned by the company Vattenfall, a field study on seven fertilizer variants was carried out in 2007-2009. The experiments were set up in Małyszyn near Gorzów Wielkopolski (Hodowla Roślin Strzelce sp. z o.o. Oddział Małyszyn) on light soil, soil valuation class IVb. Each plot covered 10 m 2. The research was carried out in completely randomized blocks with four replications. Plant samples (grain and straw) were mineralized in a solution of nitric acid(V) and chloric acid(VII); afterwards the total content of iron and manganese was assessed. Application of coal ash to the soil resulted in a decrease of iron and manganese in spring wheat and spring barley grain and straw, especially in the second and third year of the experiment. Additionally, the enrichment of soil with the microbiological preparation EM-1 decreased the concentrations of iron and manganese in the plants. It was noted that the quantities of iron and manganese in the grain and straw of both wheat and barley were decreasing in the subsequent years of the experiment, as a result of which the plant content of these microelements in individual years was varied. To some extent, the above relationship can be explained by the fact that in the last growing season was characterized by the least rainfall. No influence of the applied coal ash on the Fe:Mn weight ratio was determined in grain from cv. Nawra wheat or cv. Lot barley.