Benefits and constraints for use of FGD products on agricultural land

Abstract

Considerable amounts of coal combustion products (CCPs) are generated when coal is burned for generation of electricity. To meet Clean Air standards, large amounts of S must not be emitted into the atmosphere, which means considerable amounts of flue gas desulfurization products (FGDs) are and will be produced. Beneficial uses of FGDs are continually being sought to reduce waste, decrease cost of disposal, and provide value-added products. Beneficial agricultural uses of FGDs include application as amendment to acidic soil to mitigate low pH problems (Al and Mn toxicities); provide plant nutrients (i.e. Ca, S, and Mg); improve soil physical properties (e.g. water infiltration and soil aggregation); help alleviate soil compaction and improve aggregate stability of sodic soils; and inactivate P under high P-soil conditions to reduce P runoff. Co-utilization of FGDs with organic materials (manures, composts, biosolids) should also provide many benefits when used on land. Constraints for use of FGDs on agricultural land could be both insufficient or excessive amounts of CaCO 3, CaO, and/or Ca(OH) 2 in raising soil pH insufficiently or too much; excessive Ca to cause imbalanced Mg, P, and K in soils/plants; Ca displacement of Al from soil exchange sites to induce Al toxicity in plants; high B to induce B toxicity in plants; excessive sulfite which is toxic to plants; and excessive amounts of undesirable trace elements (e.g. As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Se) which could potentially contaminate water and pose toxicity to plants/animals/microorganisms. Most constraints should not impose problems for FGD use on land.