International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology

The study area of Chhattisgarh, known as rice bowl of India is rich in mineral resource. This has made cultivation of rice and coal-based iron and power industries run simultaneously. The industrial release fly ash comes to the cultivated soil. The microorganisms especially decomposers are very important with regard to the fertility of the soil. The present study therefore, focuses only to understand the effect of fly as on growth of some soil fungi. These fungi were isolated from crop field affected with the fly ash, while pure fly ash was added as media supplement obtained from power industry located in Korba. Simpson diversity index with 0.090 indicates a low diversity of fungi in the study area. P. chrysogenum has maximum growth (142.13%) in the low concentration (10 mg L⁻¹) of fly ash followed by C. lunata and A. niger, while increased concentration showed mixed findings that support and also suppress the growth of some fungi. The ANOVA comparison (P = 0.035) therefore indicates the different effect of fly ash on fungi. From the findings it is concluded that the affected crop field soil has a low diversity of fungi but the still surviving may adopt it and be showing enhancement in growth while adding fly ash as nutrient.