Abstract
In the present work, we aimed to study the effect of quantitative changes of micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Mn) in soil and plants caused by wood ash applied into the soil in increasing doses. A pot experiment with medium textured soil, white mustard as a test plant and six amendment treatments (doses of wood ash: 0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 Mg·ha-1) was performed. Total contents of Cu, Zn and Mn were determined in soil and plant samples. Single (DTPA and HCl) and sequential (BCR) extractions were used to evaluate the available amounts of metals and their distribution in fractions. A plant’s ability to accumulate metals from soils was estimated using the bioconcentration factor (BCF), which is defined as the ratio of metal concentration in the plants to that in soil. The increasing doses of wood ash increased total and available contents of trace elements, especially Cu and Mn. The distribution of metals among particular fractions depended mainly on their geochemical character. The highest content of Cu was found in the reducible and oxidisable fractions, whereas, the greatest amounts of Zn and Mn were in the exchangeable and reducible fractions, and the lowest in the oxidisable fraction. Despite small wood ash influence on metal distribution in the individual soil fractions, increasing doses of wood ash increased the amounts of Cu, Zn, Mn in easily soluble fractions, which are potentially available to plants. As a result of wood ash increasing doses application, the higher amounts of Cu, Zn and Mn in plant tissues were found. However, only in the case of Zn, the value of BCF indicated on such accumulation in the plants.
Highlights
Forest biomass has become a substantial source of bioenergy
Despite small wood ash influence on metal distribution in the individual soil fractions, increasing doses of wood ash increased the amounts of Cu, Zn, Mn in soluble fractions, which are potentially available to plants
A review of literature presented by Olsson et al (2017) shows that there is a large number of studies which have examined effects of wood ash applications on soil metal content
Summary
Forest biomass has become a substantial source of bioenergy. It is widely accepted because biomass energy is a renewable power source that does not release net CO2 during the combustion process and complies with EU’s (2009) directive on renewable energy to mitigate climate change (Shi et al 2016). Wood ash is a by-product of burning wood and its waste. It is produced by the power industry, but households increase the amount of this waste. The aforementioned authors indicate that ash may contain toxic elements, so it is necessary to analyse it in detail before it is applied into soil. Wood and wood briquettes used as fireplace fuels cause seasonal production of small amounts of wood ash. It is disposed of as municipal waste or it is used in gardening. Bioavailability of the nutrients to plant should be assessed
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