Utilization of Fly Ash in Cash Crops Production

In developing countries, coal is the primary source of energy in thermal power plants to generate electricity and resulting in the production of fly ash as a by-product. Each year an enormous quantity of fly ash is produced worldwide, and due to its fine nature and toxicity, its disposal is a matter of various health and environmental concerns. A significant amount of energy, water, and vast land is required to dispose of the fly ash. Considering this as a global challenge, researchers are exploring diverse ways to minimize waste production as well as utilization of generated residue in the agricultural industry. Fly ash has a higher content of essential nutrients and minerals (Na, K, Zn, Mg, Ca, Fe, Pb, Cu, Co, B, Mn, Ni, and Cd), hence the agricultural industry has great potential to use fly ash as fertilizers and soil amendments. With the use of fly ash in agriculture, a remarkable impact on the nutrient status of soil, quality, and productivity of crops and heavy metal uptake in plants has been observed. With prolonged use of fly ash, there is gradual improvement in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil which protects and restores topsoil and helps in wasteland reclamation. Even though the content of fly ash is affected by the type of coal burned, its combination with microbial inoculants and organic manure enhances biomass production in plants. Considering the presence of traces of radioactivity and heavy metal content, the impact on health and safety-related studies needs to be scientifically discussed. The present study emphasizes on utilization of fly ash in cash crops, which may be the boom in the agriculture industry because the presence of heavy metal in fly ash should not harm the different trophic levels of the food cycle.