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An evaluation of the effectiveness of coal ash as an amendment for acid soils
Thesis (MScAgric (Soil Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2008
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| _version_ | 1867614096746086400 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Mbakwe, Ikenna |
| author2 | Fey, M. V. |
| author_browse | Fey, M. V. Mbakwe, Ikenna |
| author_facet | Fey, M. V. Mbakwe, Ikenna |
| author_sort | Mbakwe, Ikenna |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MScAgric (Soil Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2005. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1976 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:36.532Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2008 |
| publishDateRange | 2008 |
| publishDateSort | 2008 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1976 An evaluation of the effectiveness of coal ash as an amendment for acid soils Mbakwe, Ikenna Fey, M. V. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Soil Science. Coal ash Soil acidity Liming Gypsum Dissertations -- Soil science Theses -- Soil science Thesis (MScAgric (Soil Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2005. Soil acidity is one of the greatest limitations to crop production in most soils of the world. The increasing high costs of conventional liming materials have made it necessary to explore the possibilities of using cheaper substitutes. In South Africa, 16 million hectares of land are naturally acid while on the other hand, the country’s coalfired power plants generate 28 million tons of mostly alkaline coal ash per year, disposal of which is increasingly becoming difficult. The use of coal ash as an agricultural soil amendment while solving the liming needs of local farmers, may also present a safe and more economical disposal option. This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of coal ash as an agricultural liming material. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using maize as test crop. A field experiment was also established on Beestepan Farm in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Province using dry beans as test crop for the first season. In both experiments, fresh unweathered coal ash from Duvha power station (CCE 10%), dolomitic lime (CCE 77%) and calmasil (calcium silicate slag, CCE 99%) were applied to acidic sandy loam soils in the presence or absence of gypsum. Both calmasil and dolomitic lime were applied at equivalent rates of 0, 1, 2, and 4 tons/ha, and rates of 0, 7, 14 and 28 tons/ha were used for ash. Gypsum was applied at a rate of 4 tons/ha. All treatments were applied in three replications. Results showed that liming increased soil pH, improved soil nutrient status and plant uptake of base cations, and enhanced yield. In the greenhouse, coal ash decreased exchangeable acidity from 13.0 mmolc/kg to 6.67 mmolc/kg, increased Ca levels from 200 mg/kg to 379 mg/kg, and increased Mg levels from 25.9 mg/kg to 42.0 mg/kg. Nitrate levels were also raised from 4.4 mg/kg to 14.8 mg/kg hypothetically as a result of the increase in the activity of nitrifying bacteria following a decrease in soil acidity after ash application. Maize yield in the greenhouse was not significantly affected by ash or by other liming materials, and the sufficient watering and consequent elimination of aluminium-induced drought stress is put forward as having masked crop responses to acidity. In the field, coal ash reduced exchangeable acidity from 10.0 mmolc/kg to 5.88 mmolc/kg, increased Ca levels from 71 mg/kg to 132 mg/kg, and increased Mg levels from 7.3 mg/kg to 17 mg/kg. The increase in bean yield from 958 kg/ha to 1724 kg/ha by ash was similar to that realized by dolomitic lime and calmasil. Gypsum had little effect on soil acidity, but it substantially improved soil Ca and sulfate levels, and enhanced bean yield in the field experiment. The study demonstrated that coal ash could be effective as a liming material, and underscores the need for a cost-benefit assessment of ash use necessitated by the relatively higher rates of ash required to obtain significant soil and plant responses. Masters 2008-11-24T09:11:53Z 2010-06-01T08:37:52Z 2008-11-24T09:11:53Z 2010-06-01T08:37:52Z 2008-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1976 en Stellenbosch University application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Coal ash Soil acidity Liming Gypsum Dissertations -- Soil science Theses -- Soil science Mbakwe, Ikenna An evaluation of the effectiveness of coal ash as an amendment for acid soils |
| title | An evaluation of the effectiveness of coal ash as an amendment for acid soils |
| title_full | An evaluation of the effectiveness of coal ash as an amendment for acid soils |
| title_fullStr | An evaluation of the effectiveness of coal ash as an amendment for acid soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | An evaluation of the effectiveness of coal ash as an amendment for acid soils |
| title_short | An evaluation of the effectiveness of coal ash as an amendment for acid soils |
| title_sort | evaluation of the effectiveness of coal ash as an amendment for acid soils |
| topic | Coal ash Soil acidity Liming Gypsum Dissertations -- Soil science Theses -- Soil science |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1976 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mbakweikenna anevaluationoftheeffectivenessofcoalashasanamendmentforacidsoils AT mbakweikenna evaluationoftheeffectivenessofcoalashasanamendmentforacidsoils |