Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

SUITABILITY AND PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT NITROGEN FIXING AND NON-NITROGEN FIXING TREE SPECIES ON FLY-ASH AMENDED SOIL

A.J. Williams and Rashmi Agrawal

Abstract

Management of solid waste (fly-ash) has attained an apparent scenario for scientific & strategic concern in India due to large-scale dependence on coal-based thermal power stations. Coal fired thermal power stations in the country are facing problems of disposing the fly ash. Ash when blown by wind not only creates air pollution but also affects adjacent crop land by deposition of fine silica and other ash particles. Due to heavy rains, dissolved salt and undissolved suspension of ash ponds are carried into water bodies. Thus, large areas required for setting of ash dumps become not only a source of pollution but unproductive too. There is an urgent need to find out the effective way to reclaim such areas. The present investigation was made to study the suitability and performance of different nitrogen fixing and non-nitrogen fixing tree species on fly ash to reclaim it biologically. Observation recorded after 12 months of planting of 13 NFT and 7 Non-NFT species showed that Sesbania sesban recorded maximum height; and maximum collar diameter was recorded in Sesbania grandiflora. Maximum root length was recorded in Acacia nilotica followed by Sesbania grandiflora. Maximum biomass was obtained in Sesbania grandiflora followed by Sesbania sesban. To assess the overall performance of different tree species in fly ash a suitability index was worked out on the basis of mean height, mean collar diameter and biomass. Sesbania grandiflora gave the highest value followed by S. sesban, G. arborea, E. hybrid, A. nilotica, A. procera, E. camaldulensis and E. tereticornis. It is suggested to rehabilitate the fly ash disposed areas with such type of tree species.