JAIPAL*, ASHA GUPTA AND N. R. BISHNOI
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology,
Hisar-125 001 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : jppataudi@gmail.com)
(Received : January 11, 2018; Accepted : March 15, 2018)
ABSTRACT
The prudent fly ash application to the soil offers the considerable opportunities, particularly for nutrient supplements, pH correction and ameliorating soil physical conditions such as soil compaction, water retention and drainage. It is primarily composed of silt sized particles with low bulk densities which enhance the porosity of the soil by changing its texture that promotes the germination and growth of the plants. In the present study, pot experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of biodegradable chelators (EDDS and NTA) on the growth parameters of Cynodon dactylon grass. Grass was transplanted in different pots containing different levels of fly ash contamination and each pot was amended with 5.0mmol/kg EDDS and 2.0 mmol/kg NTA. Results indicated that chelators application increased the solubility and bioavailability of heavy metals in fly ash contaminated soil. No significant impact on the growth performance was observed up to 20 and 30% fly ash contaminated soil amended with EDDS and NTA chelators, respectively, and after this, significant decrease in plant growth parameters was noticed in remaining levels of fly ash contaminated soil amended with both the chelators may be due to more availability of toxic heavy metals at higher levels of fly ash contamination which poses the toxicity impact on the growth of the grass.
Key words : Biomass, fly ash, phytoremediation, heavy metals, Cynodon dactylon, EDDS, NTA