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The Plant Availability of Potassium in Fly Ash¹

ABSTRACT

The availability of K in fly ash obtained from nine coal burning power generating plants was evaluated by greenhouse and laboratory procedures. The total K content of the samples of fly ash ranged from 0.65 to 3.14%. Eight of the samples were bituminous coal ashes, and one was lignite coal ash. The samples of bituminous coal fly ash neutralized less than 0.25 meq H₃O⁺/g, whereas the sample of lignite coal fly ash neutralized 3.05 meq H₃O⁺/g. Application of three samples of the bituminous coal fly ash and the sample of lignite coal fly ash increased K uptake by corn plants (Zea mays L.) grown on Davidson clay loam. Potassium uptake was higher from application of 158 mg K as KCl to 2,100 g of the soil than from application of a higher rate of K as the four samples of fly ash. Equivalent K uptake by corn plants occurred from application of 79 mg K as KCl and 207 mg K as the lignite fly ash. However, yield was lower where the ash was applied. Tissue analyses indicated that B toxicity limited yield on the latter treatment. Application of certain of the fly ash samples increased Mg uptake by corn plants. This increase in Mg uptake probably caused a decrease in K uptake by plants grown in the fly ash-soil mixtures.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Agronomy, Research Division, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Va. 24061. The investigation was conducted in cooperation with the Morgantown Coal Research Center, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Morgantown, West Va., and was supported by the U.S. Bureau of Mines Solid Waste Disposal Grant SWD-14.

² Associate Professor of Agronomy, Graduate Research Asistant, and Instructor of Agronomy, respectively.

Received for publication November 7, 1969. Accepted for publication February 10, 1970.