The agronomic benefit of pulp mill boiler wood ash

Land application of wood ash is becoming more appealing, as a disposable alternative, to landfilling options. It is estimated that 110,000 tonnes of wood ash is produced annually in Alberta by cogeneration systems, a large percentage produced in Central and Peace River Regions of Alberta. Alkaline (pH-13) properties and nutrient content of wood ash provides an alternative for the acidic and nutrient deficient soils within these regions. The objective of this field study was to determine the effect wood ash applications would have under field conditions on: the chemical and physical properties of soils; barley dry matter production; grain and seed yield of barley and canola; and the nutrient and metal uptake by crop tissue. Ash applications significantly increased dry matter and seed yield, improved crop nutrient quality, increased soil pH and improved soil nutrient availability, while not infringing on any environmental regulations.

Authors

• Patterson, Shane
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science

• Woodwaste as mulch, soil conditioner, etc. -- Alberta
• Organic wastes as fertilizer -- Alberta
• Ash disposal -- Alberta
• Ash disposal -- Environmental aspects -- Alberta
• Dissertations, Academic

Identifier

hdl:10133/127

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/127