Influence of fly ash mixtures on early tree growth and physicochemical properties of soil in semi-arid tropical Alfisols

Abstract

The beneficial effects of planting mixtures comprising of fly ash at the rate of 66%, 33% and 17% by soil volume were assessed for the early growth of two economic tree species, teak (Tectona grandis) and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) in rainfed Semi-Arid Tropical (SAT) Alfisols in India. Measurements of tree growth were made at six monthly intervals over a 3-year period. Fly ash at 66% by soil volume of the planting pit significantly increased the diameter of teak at breast height (dbh). In leucaena, application of fly ash at 17% by soil volume was found to be effective in increasing dbh during most of the study period. Changes in soil physicochemical properties (bulk density, water retention at 0.033 and 1.5MPa, profile moisture content, pH, soluble salt content and organic carbon) were simultaneously studied. Among these soil properties, plant available water (PAW) and organic carbon (OC) contents explained variations in diameter at breast height (dbh) in teak during most of the sampling period, while none of the soil properties significantly explained dbh in leucaena. The highest dose of fly ash applied (66% by volume) decreased bulk density (BD) and increased PAW in teak and to an extent in leucaena during the first 2years of tree growth. Higher profile moisture content was noted in pits treated with 66% fly ash during the dry period of November (after the end of seasonal rainfall which occurred from June to October) during the first and second year after application.