Utilization of coal fly ash and municipal sewage sludge in agriculture and for reconstruction of soils in disturbed lands: results of case studies from Greece and China

Christos D. Tsadilas,Yinli Bi,Thomai Nikoli,Zhenqi Hu

doi:10.1007/s40789-018-0202-9

Christos D. Tsadilas, Yinli Bi + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s40789-018-0202-9

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Abstract

Coal fly ash (CFA) and municipal sewage sludge (MSS) management is a great concern worldwide. An alternative gaining high interest, is their use in agriculture and for reclamation of degraded lands. The purpose of this paper was to present very briefly the results of some case studies carried out in China and Greece related to land reclamation and agricultural use of CFA and MSS separately or combined. An experiment in Platanoulia area, central Greece showed clearly that CFA applied together with MSS at appropriate rates increased substantially wheat grain and biomass yield and improved soil quality (increased soil pH, organic matter content, total nitrogen, available P and boron). In a long-term experiment carried out in Huaibei city, Anhui province, China with a reconstructed soil in a subsided land by using CFA, it was found that physicochemical characteristics (infiltration rate, bulk density, total nitrogen, available P and extractable K) tended to be improved over time. In another experiment in Rodia area central Greece, MSS application improved soil quality of limestone mining spoils from bauxite mining activities. Several other experiments with MSS in Greece showed a clear positive effect on cotton and maize yield and on soil quality.

Highlights

Coal fly ash (CFA) is the finer ash produced in coal-fired power station, collected by using electrostatic precipitators
The purpose of this paper was to present very briefly the results of some case studies carried out in China and Greece related to land reclamation and agricultural use of CFA and municipal sewage sludge (MSS) separately or combined
In a long-term experiment carried out in Huaibei city, Anhui province, China with a reconstructed soil in a subsided land by using CFA, it was found that physicochemical characteristics tended to be improved over time

Summary

Introduction

Coal fly ash (CFA) is the finer ash produced in coal-fired power station, collected by using electrostatic precipitators. It comprises about 85% of the total ash produced. In terms of their potential to neutralize acidity, fly ashes can be broadly grouped into two classes: a) class C (produced by lignite and sub-bituminous coal) which is high in CaO content ([ 20%), alkaline, and contains crystalline compounds, but low in silica and b) class F Constraints related to agricultural use of CFA are referred to the content of inert material that may reduce water holding capacity, and the usually high heavy metal content (Malik and Thapliyal 2009), and organic pollutants (Sahu et al 2009).

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