ntensive cultivation leads to meet the food demand of present generation but

overexploitation of natural resources like soil and water bodies in relation to their

capabilities results in decreasing level of organic matter and soil health. Sustainability is

necessary to meet the demand of present generation as well as keep the soil fertile and

healthy for future generations without deteriorate its quality. Scientific management, timely

and safe disposal of fly ash is a unsolved problem. At present time, there is a need of safe and

profitable disposal of fly ash is needed. Fly ash contains various essential plant nutrients. Fly

ash is a cheaper and easily available source of plant nutrients. Utilization of fly ash in

agriculture will be a milestone in timely disposal of fly ash with reduction in cost of

various alternate source of energy production come into limelight like solar energy, wind,

turbine, thermal plant, nuclear power generation plants. Even with discovery of such type of

energy sources, the hyperbolic use of coal cannot be counterbalanced in various developing

countries like India. In India, per year about 175 million tonnes of fly ash is produced from

various thermal power generation plants and it is expected to production of 300 million

tonnes fly ash in near future (Pani et al., 2015). Every year, during the combustion of coal in

thermal power plants, Bricks kilns and other industries, various by products produced.

Among these, fly ash is a major important by product, which management and safe disposal

is an unsolved problem. The generation of electricity leads to anthropogenic emission of CO

2

,

SO

2

, NO

x

along with fly ash in huge quantity by thermal power plants (Singh and Pandey,

2013). Every year more than 100 million tonnes of fly ash is produced in more than 1800

by dry or wet method. In dry method, fly

ash is disposed through dumped it in

landfills and dry basins, While in wet

method, fly ash is washed out in artificial

lagoons with the help of water, which

commonly called Pond Ash. Both these

method of disposal of fly ash is costly and

harmful to human health along with lead to

soil quality and health degradation. Landfilling of fly ash adversely affect the soil fertility and

pollute the quality of ground water also.

The application of fly ash to heavy black clay soils can be alter their texture and make them

more friable to easily plough them and favour to enhance germination of crop seeds and

minimize soil crusting. An application of fly ash improve the soil texture (Panda and Biswal

2018).

With the application of appropriate quantity of fly ash can be make soil crumby and granular

with improve soil structure, which favour crop growth and yield. Fly ash improves the soil

structure, when applied to soils (Dhindsa et al., 2016).

porosity and improved water holding capacity of such soils (Michel et al.,2004).

Anapplication of fly as 10, 20, 30 and 40% (w/w basis) in clay, sandy clay loam, sandy and

sandy loam resulted in increased electrical conductivity (Panda and Biswal, 2018).

Fly ash improve soil physical properties like soil texture, soil structure, aeration

status.Moderate infiltration rate favour a great enhance soil aggregation and minimize runoff

losses and protect the soil from erosion. So, fly ash can be used for enhanced water

infiltration rate.

capacity of a soil(Dhindsa et al., 2016). Several field experiments reveals that soils mixed

with 50% fly ash showed a higher water holding capacity as compared to other soil. An

application of fly as 10, 20, 30 and 40% (w/w basis) in clay, sandy clay loam, sandy and

sandy loam resulted in increased water holding capacity (Panda and Biswal, 2018).

Fly ash can be used to correct both the soil acidity and soil alkalinity. Fly ash can be acidic or

alkaline which is depends upon the source and combustion process.The application of fly as

10, 20, 30 and 40 % (w/w basis) in clay, sandy clay loam, sandy and sandy loam resulted in

increased soil pH (Panda and Biswal, 2018). Fly ash when applied to acidic soils, act as a

liming material to neutralize soil acidity which enhance the available nutrient status of the

cation exchange capacity of soil (Tomar et al., 2015).

Fly ash is also a rich source of various micronutrients including Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Boron and

Molybdenum (Meena et al., 2019). Higher concentration of essential plant nutrients including

K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn and Fe in fly ash increased the yield of agricultural crops.An application

of fly ash with municipal biosolids prove N and P to the soil with leading to better crop

production (Sahoo et al., 2021).So, fly ash can be used as a source of nutrient. An application

of fly ash with municipal bio-solids prove N and P to the soil with leading the better crop

production (Sahoo et al., 2021).

Fly ash is when applied to acidic soils, it corrects the soil acidity by rise the soil pH which

create a favourable environment for bacterial and other certain microbial population resulted

in nutrient transformation and nitrogen fixation. The soil applications of fly ash increase

activity of invertase, amylase, dehydrogenase and protease enzyme in soil system (Sarangi et

al., 2001). There was a significant effects on soil health in terms of microbial populations,

Lea, T. V., Ngoa, C. N. and Futamatab, H. (2021). Effect of fly ash amendment on sandy soil

properties and peanut yields. Science Asia, 47(3): 357-365.

chemical fertilizers on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of wheat (Triticum aestivum

L.) in Inceptisol. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 8(5): 733-736.

Michel C. Nolin, B. G. and Cambouris, A. N. (2004). Combined de-inking paper sludge and

Panda, R. B. and Biswal, T. (2018). Impact of fly ash on soil properties and

productivity. International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and

Biotechnology, 11(2): 275-283.

impact on methanotrophs population dynamics and paddy yields. Ecotoxicology and

Environmental Safety, 89: 43-51.