Securing Topsoil for Rehabilitation Using Fly Ash in Open-Cast Coal Mines: Effects of Fly Ash on Plant Growth

Matsumoto, Shinji; Hamanaka, Akihiro; Murakami, K.; Shimada, Hideki; Sasaoka, Takashi

doi:10.29227/im-2019-01-02

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 13 publications

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“…Some tree species such as silver birch (Betula pendula L.), northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) or common ash (Fraximus excelsior L.) are used in the fly ash management process on ash dumps [9]. In other regions of the world, fly ashes were used in forestry on other soil units as Fluvisols, Alfisols, Ultisols, Inceptosols and Solonietz [10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Fly Ash on Soil Properties and Vegetation of Fresh Coniferous Forest during Long-Term Observation

Bogacz,

Kasowska,

Telega

et al. 2024

Forests

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Fly ashes produced in huge amounts during coal combustion requires proper management. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of fly ash from burning hard coal used in large doses (250, 500, 1000 and 2000 t ha−1) on soil properties and vegetation of fresh mixed coniferous forest within 43 years from the ash application. The experiment was established in the Podzols in the forest habitat of Czułów, Katowice Forest district, Upper Silesia, Poland. Eight tree species were planted in ridges created by ploughing: Pinus sylvestris, P. nigra, Larix decidua, Betula pendula, Quercus robur, Q., Acer pseudoplatanus and Fagus sylvatica. The changes in soil morphology caused significant transformations in the physical and chemical properties of the soil such as soil texture, pH, macronutrients (P, K and Mg) content and C:N ratio. Increasing of ash doses changed the granulometric composition of the soil levels from loamy sand (250 t/ha−1) to silt loam (2000 t ha−1). Initially, the acidic Podzols were alkalized under the influence of the fly ash and then acidified, possibly due to the impact of accumulated litter layers, and the reaction of organic soil horizons changed from strongly acidic (250–1000 t ha−1) to alkalis (2000 t/ha−1). The macronutrients content increased in proportion to the fly ash dose, but the subsequent acidification resulted in a gradual decrease in the macronutrients share in the soil layers. The value of the C:N ratio grew after the ash application and then it gradually reduced, even by half. The transformations of soil horizons’ properties also increased the capacity of the soil sorption complex (CEC). All these processes led to a change in the trophic status of the habitat expressed by the soil habitat index (SIG) and the initial coniferous forest site can be classified as a mixed forest habitat even with the lowest ash dose used. The composition of plant communities developed forty years after the ash application was similar at the lower ash doses and the most frequent and abundant tree species were L. decidua, P. nigra and P. silvestris. B. pendula was previously co-dominant, but it was eliminated from the tree stands during the experiment. Planted trees characteristic of late stages of succession, such as Q. robur, Q. rubra, F. sylvatica and A. pseudoplatanus either did not survive or remained in very low quantities. The herb and moss layers developed in the process of spontaneous colonization, and together with the trees led to phytostabilisation of the bare substrates. After acidification of the topsoil horizons, the herb layers consisted mostly of coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forest species, and the most frequent or abundant were Lysimachia europea and Pteridium aquilinum. The moss layers were represented by coniferous forest flora. At the ash dose of 2000 t ha−1, Tilia cordata settled in one of the seral stages of spontaneous succession and this species dominated in the community and formed a dense tree stand. After the soil acidification, a shift from calcicole to calcifuge plant strategy took place among species of the herbaceous layer. The transformations of plant communities’ composition occurred in relation to changes in the soil properties.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Fly Ash on Soil Properties and Vegetation of Fresh Coniferous Forest during Long-Term Observation

Bogacz,

Kasowska,

Telega

et al. 2024

Forests

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Amelioration of acidic soil using fly Ash for Mine Revegetation in Post-Mining Land

Hamanaka

Sasaoka

Shimada

et al. 2022

Int J Coal Sci Technol

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This paper described the use of fly ash for soil amelioration of acidic soils to promote plant growth. In mining sites, acid sulfate soils/rocks, which contain sulfide minerals (e.g. pyrite FeS2), have appeared as a result of overburden excavation. The excessively acidic condition inhibits plant growth due to the dissolution of harmful elements, such as Al, Fe, and Mn. Fly ash, an alkaline byproduct of coal combustion generated in thermal power plants is expected to be adopted to ameliorate acidic soils. However, the mixing ratio of fly ash must be considered because excessive addition of fly ash can have a negative impact on plant growth due to its physical/chemical properties. The pot trials using Acacia mangium demonstrate the evolution of plant growth with a 5%–10% addition of fly ash into acidic soil. When the acidic soil has a high potential for metal dissolution, the metal ions leached from the acidic soil are large, making it difficult to improve plant growth due to osmotic and ionic stress. This work suggests that the effects of fly ash on metal ions leached from the soil have to be considered for the amelioration of acidic soil.

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Securing Topsoil for Rehabilitation Using Fly Ash in Open-Cast Coal Mines: Effects of Fly Ash on Plant Growth

Cited by 2 publications

References 13 publications

Influence of Fly Ash on Soil Properties and Vegetation of Fresh Coniferous Forest during Long-Term Observation

Influence of Fly Ash on Soil Properties and Vegetation of Fresh Coniferous Forest during Long-Term Observation

Amelioration of acidic soil using fly Ash for Mine Revegetation in Post-Mining Land

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