EFFECT OF FLYASH INCORPORATION IN SOIL ON GERMINATION AND SEEDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF RICE (Oryza sativa L.)

ABSTRACT Fly ash is a waste product of Industrial plants that pose serious environmental hazards. The possibility of using fly ash as a soil amendment in the reclamation of disturbed areas is a research topic of growing interest. The present study evaluated effects of fly ash on germination of rice crops to work out the optimum level of ash addition and relate germination effects with early seedling vigour characteristics caused by mixing ash with the soil. Increase in concentration of fly ash decrease in seed germination and least germination was seen in 100 % fly ash while seedling growth in terms of both shoot length and root length was found to be significantly more in low concentration (25%) of fly ash in compared to the control and higher concentrations of Fly ash. There was no significant difference of leaf Chlorophyll a and Chlorophyll b in control and different treatments, but the total chlorophyll found to be more in 25% of fly ash concentration followed by 100 % of fly ash and least was observed in control condition, while SPAD index was decreased with the increase of fly ash concentration in the incorporated soil. The study revealed that the fly ash in low concentration could be beneficial in improving plant growth and early seedling vigour of rice plants can be used as soil amendment and, while adverse effects was observed at higher levels. This finding is encouraging for an agro-friendly disposal of this potential multiple-pollutant in rice cultivation and soil-fertilization as well. Key Words: Chlorophyll; Fly ash; Germination; Seedling vigour; Rice. REFERENCES Adriano D. C., Page A. L., Elseewi A. A., Change A. C., Straughan I. 1980. Utilization and Disposal of fly-ash and other residues in terrestrial ecosystems: review. Jornal ofEnviron. Qual. 9: 333-334. Chang A. C, Lund L. J., Page A. L., Warneke J. E. 1977. Physical properties of fly ash amended soils. J. Environ. Qual. 6: 267-270. Eary L.E., Rai D., Mattigod S. V., Ainsworth C.C. 1990. Geochemical factors controlling the mobilization of inorganic constituents from fossil fuel combustion residues. J Environ. Qual. 19: 202–214. El-mogazi D., Lisk D.J., Weinstin L.H. 1988. A review of physical, chemical and biological properties of fly-ash and effects on agricultural ecosystems. Sci Total Environ. 74:1–37 Gautam S., Singh A., Singh J. and Shikha. 2012. Effect of Flyash Amended Soil on Growth and Yield of Indian Mustard (Brassica Juncea). Advances in Bio. Res.3: 39-45. Gupta D. K., Rai U. N. Tripathi R. D. Inouhe M. 2002. Impacts of fly-ash on soil and plant responses. J Plant Res. 115:401–409 Kumar A., Vajpayee P., Ali M. B., Tripathi R. D., Singh N., Rai U. N., Singh S. N. 2002 Biochemical responses of Cassia siamea Lam. grown on coalcombustion residue (fly-ash). Bull Environ Contam. Toxicol. 68: 675–683. Kumar V., Goswami G., Zacharia A. K. 2001. Fly ash use in agriculture: issues and concerns. Technology demonstration projects commissioned by fly-ash mission under technology information forecasting assestment council (TIFAC) News and Views, pp 1-6. Mandal P. K. and Sinha A. K. 1988. Potential utilization of fly ash from thermal power stations-Magnitude of problems and remedies thereof, Nat Workshop Coal Ash Utilization India. Sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, 1-18. Martens D. C. 1971. Availability of plant nutrients in fly-ash. Compost Sci. 12: 15–19. Pathak H., Kalra N., Sharma S. and Joshi H.C. 1996. Use of fly ash in agriculture: Potentialities and constraints. Yojana, 40: 24-25. Panda D., Sharma S. G. and Sarkar R.K. 2008. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, CO2 photosynthetic rate and regeneration capacity as a result of complete submergence and subsequent re-emergence in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Aquatic Botany. 88: 127-133. Plank C. O., Martens D. C. 1974. Boron availability as influenced by application of fly ash to soil. Soil Sci Soc. Am. Proc. 38: 974-977. Porra R.J. 2002. The Chequered history of the development and use of simultaneous equations for accurate determination of chlorophyll a & b. Photosynth. Res. 73; 149-156. Singh N. and Yunus M. 2000. Environmental impacts of fly-ash. IN: Iraq J Environ boil. Srivastava, P. S. Siddiqui T. O. (eds) Environmental hazards: plant and people. CBS, New Delhi, pp 60-79. Singh S. N., Kulshreshtha K., Ahmad K. J. 1997. Impact of fly ash soil amendment on seed germination, seedling growth and metal composition of Vicia faba L. Eco. Eng. 9: 203-208. Taylor E. M., and Schuman G. E. 1988. Fly ash and lime amendment of acid coal spoil to acid re vegetation. Environ. Qual., 17: 120-124