Agricultural Research Station, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Ummedganj, Kota - 324001, India.
Characterization of flyash has widely shown about its usefulness in improving soil physico-chemical properties and crop growth, as its disposal needs large area of land. The research conducted on the use of flyash in agriculture indicates that main constituents of flyash are silicates of iron and aluminum. It contains fairly high available major nutrients like P, K and S and micronutrients such as Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and B with high bio-available heavy metals. Depending up on its source of availability it may be acidic or alkaline in reaction and therefore, it can be used as ameliorant to reclaim acidic and alkali soils. Flyash also ads as a soil modifier to upgrade the physical properties of clay as well as sandy soil. Fly ash not only enhance germination of seed but also helps in development of plant due to increased nutrient content and uptake by plants in terms of sustainable economic production. Further the work done in India is very scanty on the use fullness of flyash in agriculture like as build up of heavy metals as well as toxic levels of nutrients, its use in combination with fertilizer and compost and its effect on the soil mlcrobs responsible for nitrification. Hence an attempt has been made to summarized the work done in recent past on the use of flyash in crop production in this review article.
