The effect of fly ash application at cultivation of spring wheat on chernozem soils of Northern Kazakhstan

Abstract

Fly ash is the main byproduct resulting from the combustion of coal at thermal power plants. The accumulation of fly ash in ash dumps is a global problem that has significant anthropogenic load on the environment. Moreover, fly ash contains the elements that make up the composition of the soil that allows their use in agriculture. According to foreign studies, the use of fly ash in agriculture as amendments has broad prospects, since it improves the quality of soil and crops, especially in emaciated lands. The article presents the research outcomes on the application of fly ash as a soil amendment when growing spring wheat on chernozem soils of Northern Kazakhstan. The studies were carried out for 4 rates of application: 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 tons of fly ash per hectare. It was revealed that the application of fly ash has a positive effect on water-physical and agrochemical indicators of ordinary chernozem and the yield of spring wheat. The optimum application rate ranges from 0.4 to 0.5 t/ha. The application of fly ash had no significant influence on the content of heavy metals in the soil and grain of spring wheat; the content of these elements did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration (MPC).