Fly Ash Properties and Their Applications as a Soil Ameliorant

Abstract

Fly ash is one of the major global pollutants which is produced in millions of tons every year. The high content of heavy metals in fly ash categorizes them as hazardous materials. The presence of ferrous, alumina, and silica along with numerous macro- and micro-nutrients make them a suitable candidate for applications in agriculture, forestry, wasteland reclamation, soil stabilizer, etc. Fly ash has positive effects on the plant growth and crop yield. A numerous literature has reported the applications of fly ash as pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides. It has both alkaline and acidic pH which helps in maintaining the pH of the infertile soil. All these applications are cited with the previous work carried out by the investigators.