Recycling for Sustainability: Plant Growth Media from Coal Combustion Products, Biosolids and Compost
Generation of electricity from coal has increased over
the years in the United States and around the world. Burning of coal
results in annual production of upwards of 100 millions tons (United
States only) of coal combustion products (CCPs). Only about a third
of these products are being used to create new products while the
remainder goes to landfills. Application of CCPs mixed with
composted organic materials onto soil can improve the soil-s
physico-chemical conditions and provide essential plant nutritients.
Our objective was to create plant growth media utilizing CCPs and
compost in way which maximizes the use of these products and, at
the same time, maintain good plant growth. Media were formulated
by adding composted organic matter (COM) to CCPs at ratios
ranging from 2:8 to 8:2 (v/v). The quality of these media was
evaluated by measuring their physical and chemical properties and
their effect on plant growth. We tested the media by 1) measuring
their physical and chemical properties and 2) the growth of three
plant species in the experimental media: wheat (Triticum sativum),
tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) and marigold (Tagetes patula).
We achieved significantly (p < 0.001) higher growth (7-130%) in the
experimental media containing CCPs compared to a commercial mix.
The experimental media supplied adequate plant nutrition as no
fertilization was provided during the experiment. Based on the
results, we recommend the use of CCPs and composts for the
creation of plant growth media.
[1] B. C. Ball and R Hunter, The determination of water release
characteristics of soil cores at low suctions, Geoderma, vol. 43, pp 195-
212, 1988.
[2] S Bardhan, M Watson, W A. Dick, Plant growth response in
experimental soilless mixes prepared from coal combustion products and
organic waste materials, Soil Science, vol. 173, pp 489-500, 2008.
[3] M. Benito, A Masaguer, R DeAntonio and A Moliner, Use of pruning
waste compost as a component in soilless growing media, Bioresource
Technology, vol. 96, pp 597-603, 2005.
[4] B. L. Black and Richard H Zimmerman, Mixture of coal ash and
compost as substrates for highbush bluebery, J Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci.,
vol. 127, pp 869-877, 2002.
[5] G. J. Bugbee and C R Frink, Composted Waste as a peat substitute in
peat-lite media, HortScience, vol. 24, pp 625-627, 1989.
[6] V. Bruder-Hubscher, F Lagarde, M J F Leroy, C Coughanowr, and F
Enguehard, Utilisation of bottom ash in road construction: evaluation of
the environmental impact, Waste Management & Research, vol. 19, pp
545-556, 2001.
[7] T. H. Brown, A E Bland, and J M Wheeldon, Pressurized fluidized-bed
combustion ash. 2. Soil and mine spoil amendment use options, Fuel,
vol. 76, pp 741-748, 1997.
[8] E. E. Cary, M Gilbert, C A Bache, W H Gutenmann and D J Lisk,
Elemental composition of potted vegetables and millet grown on hard
coal bottom ash-amended soil, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination
and Toxicology, vol. 31, pp 418-423, 1983.
[9] L. Chen, W A Dick and S Nelson, Flue gas desulfurization by-products
addition to acid soil: alfalfa productivity and environmental quality,
Environmental Pollution, vol. 114, pp 161-168, 2001.
[10] L. Chen, W A Dick and S Nelson Jr., Flue gas desulfurization products
as sulfur sources for alfalfa and soybean, Agronomy Journal, vol. 97, pp
265-271, 2005.
[11] Y. Chen, A Banin and Y Ataman, Characterization of particles, pores,
hydraulic properties and water-air ratios of artificial growth media and
soil, Proc. 5th Int. Con. Soilless Culture, Wageningen, 1980, pp. 63-82.
[12] Y. Chen, A Gottesman, T Aviad and Y Inbar, The use of bottom ash coal
cinder amended with compost as a container medium in horticulture,
Acta Horticulture, vol. 294, pp 173-181, 1991.
[13] R. B. Clark and V C Baligar, Growth of forage legumes and grasses in
acidic soil amended with flue gas desulfurization products,
Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, vol. 34, pp 157-
180, 2003.
[14] F. F. da Silva, R Wallach, and Y. Chen, Hydraulic properties of
rockwool slabs used as substrates used in horticulture, Acta Horticulture,
vol. 401, pp 71-75, 1995.
[15] W. A. Dick, D A Kost, L Chen, R C Stehouwer, T A Houser, J M
Bigham and Y Hao, Land application uses of FGD for mineland
reclamation and agriculture: arsenic, Proceedings - 16th Annual
International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 1999, pp 448-461.
[16] M. De Boodt and N De Waele, Physical properties of artificial soils and
the growth of ornamental plants, Pedologie, vol. 18, pp 275-300, 1968.
[17] E. Epstein, Effect of sewage sludge on some soil physical properties,
Journal of Environmental Quality, vol. 4, pp 139-142, 1975.
[18] H. A. J. Hoitink, W. Zhang, D.Y. Han and W.A. Dick, Making
composts to suppress plant disease, Biocycle, vol. 38, pp 40-42, 1997.
[19] H. Kirchmann and M H Gerzabek, Relationship between soil organic
matter and micropores in a long-term experiment at Ultuna, Sweden, J.
Plant Nutr. Soil Sci., vol. 162, pp 493-498, 1999.
[20] A. Klute, Water Retention: Laboratory Methods. In Methods of Soil
Analysis, part 1. Physical and Mineralogical Methods, Agronomy
Monograph,vol. 9 (2nd edition). pp. 635-660, 1986.
[21] A. A. Maynard, Using MSW compost in nursery stock production,
BioCycle, vol. 39, pp 63-65, 1998.
[22] M. J. Mitchell, R Hartenstein, B L Swift, E F Neuhauser, B I Abrams, R
M Mulligan, B A Brown, D Craig and D Kaplan, Effects of different
sewage sludges on some chemical and biological characteristics of soil,
Journal of Environmental Quality, vol. 7, pp 551-559, 1978.
[23] T. M. Nechvatal and D T Michaud, Crop and soil responses to land
application of bottom ash, Proceedings - International Ash Use
Symposium. 9th GS-7162, vol. 3, 60, pp 1-19, 1991.
[24] A. M. O'Neal, A key for evaluating soil permeability by means of certain
field clues, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc., vol. 21, pp 355-359, 1952.
[25] R. Sébastien and A Delebarre, Removal of mercury in aqueous solution
by fluidized bed plant fly ash, Fuel, vol. 82, pp 153-159, 2003.
[26] A. Shiralipour, D B McConnell and W H Smith, Physical and chemical
properties of soils as affected by municipal solid waste compost
application, Biomass and Bioenergy, vol. 3, pp 261-266, 1992.
[27] J. J. Sloan, R H Dowdy, M S Dolan and G W Rehm, Plant and soil
responses to field-applied flue gas desulfurization residue, Fuel, vol. 78,
pp 169-174, 1999.
[28] O. Stabnikova, W K Goh, H B Ding, J H Tay and J Wang, The use of
sewage sludge and horticultural waste to develop artificial soil for plant
cultivation in Singapore, Bioresource Technology, vol. 96, pp 1073-
1080, 2005.
[29] L. P. Tan, J He and S K Lee, Growth of some tropical ornamental plants
on artificial topsoils derived from mixtures of fly ash, sludge, biochips,
and Rengam series subsoil, Journal of Plant Nutrition, vol. 27, pp 75-94,
2004.
[30] P. Taerakul, M Lamminen, H Walker and E E Harold, Water quality at
Roberts Dawson mine following injection of flue gas desulfurization byproduct.
Abstracts of Papers, 223rd ACS National Meeting, Orlando,
FL, United States, April 7-11, 2002.
[31] M. J. Tedesco, E C Teixeira, C Medina and A Bugin, Reclamation of
spoil and refuse material produced by coal mining using bottom ash and
lime, Environmental Technology, vol. 20, pp 523-529, 1999.
[32] G. L. Terman, V J Kilmer, C M Hunt and W Buchanan, Fluidized bed
boiler waste as a source of nutrients and lime, J Environ. Quality, vol. 7,
pp 147-150, 1978.
[33] R. Wallach, F F da silva and Y Chen, Unsaturated hydraulic
characteristics of composted agricultural wastes, tuff and their mixtures,
Soil Sci., vol. 153, pp 434-441, 1992a.
[34] R. Wallach R, F F da silva and Y. Chen, Hydraulic characteristics of
tuff (scoria) used as a container medium, J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., vol.
117, pp 415-421, 1992b.
[35] P. R. Warman and W C Termeer, Evaluation of sewage sludge, septic
waste and sludge compost applications to corn and forage: Ca, Mg, S,
Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and B content of crops and soils, Bioresource
Technology, vol. 96, pp 1029-1038, 2005.
[36] Warncke D, Greenhouse root media. In: Recommended Chemical Soil
Test Procedures for the North Central Region. NCR Publication No. 221.
Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Columbia, MO, USA. pp 61-
64, 1998.
[1] B. C. Ball and R Hunter, The determination of water release
characteristics of soil cores at low suctions, Geoderma, vol. 43, pp 195-
212, 1988.
[2] S Bardhan, M Watson, W A. Dick, Plant growth response in
experimental soilless mixes prepared from coal combustion products and
organic waste materials, Soil Science, vol. 173, pp 489-500, 2008.
[3] M. Benito, A Masaguer, R DeAntonio and A Moliner, Use of pruning
waste compost as a component in soilless growing media, Bioresource
Technology, vol. 96, pp 597-603, 2005.
[4] B. L. Black and Richard H Zimmerman, Mixture of coal ash and
compost as substrates for highbush bluebery, J Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci.,
vol. 127, pp 869-877, 2002.
[5] G. J. Bugbee and C R Frink, Composted Waste as a peat substitute in
peat-lite media, HortScience, vol. 24, pp 625-627, 1989.
[6] V. Bruder-Hubscher, F Lagarde, M J F Leroy, C Coughanowr, and F
Enguehard, Utilisation of bottom ash in road construction: evaluation of
the environmental impact, Waste Management & Research, vol. 19, pp
545-556, 2001.
[7] T. H. Brown, A E Bland, and J M Wheeldon, Pressurized fluidized-bed
combustion ash. 2. Soil and mine spoil amendment use options, Fuel,
vol. 76, pp 741-748, 1997.
[8] E. E. Cary, M Gilbert, C A Bache, W H Gutenmann and D J Lisk,
Elemental composition of potted vegetables and millet grown on hard
coal bottom ash-amended soil, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination
and Toxicology, vol. 31, pp 418-423, 1983.
[9] L. Chen, W A Dick and S Nelson, Flue gas desulfurization by-products
addition to acid soil: alfalfa productivity and environmental quality,
Environmental Pollution, vol. 114, pp 161-168, 2001.
[10] L. Chen, W A Dick and S Nelson Jr., Flue gas desulfurization products
as sulfur sources for alfalfa and soybean, Agronomy Journal, vol. 97, pp
265-271, 2005.
[11] Y. Chen, A Banin and Y Ataman, Characterization of particles, pores,
hydraulic properties and water-air ratios of artificial growth media and
soil, Proc. 5th Int. Con. Soilless Culture, Wageningen, 1980, pp. 63-82.
[12] Y. Chen, A Gottesman, T Aviad and Y Inbar, The use of bottom ash coal
cinder amended with compost as a container medium in horticulture,
Acta Horticulture, vol. 294, pp 173-181, 1991.
[13] R. B. Clark and V C Baligar, Growth of forage legumes and grasses in
acidic soil amended with flue gas desulfurization products,
Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, vol. 34, pp 157-
180, 2003.
[14] F. F. da Silva, R Wallach, and Y. Chen, Hydraulic properties of
rockwool slabs used as substrates used in horticulture, Acta Horticulture,
vol. 401, pp 71-75, 1995.
[15] W. A. Dick, D A Kost, L Chen, R C Stehouwer, T A Houser, J M
Bigham and Y Hao, Land application uses of FGD for mineland
reclamation and agriculture: arsenic, Proceedings - 16th Annual
International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 1999, pp 448-461.
[16] M. De Boodt and N De Waele, Physical properties of artificial soils and
the growth of ornamental plants, Pedologie, vol. 18, pp 275-300, 1968.
[17] E. Epstein, Effect of sewage sludge on some soil physical properties,
Journal of Environmental Quality, vol. 4, pp 139-142, 1975.
[18] H. A. J. Hoitink, W. Zhang, D.Y. Han and W.A. Dick, Making
composts to suppress plant disease, Biocycle, vol. 38, pp 40-42, 1997.
[19] H. Kirchmann and M H Gerzabek, Relationship between soil organic
matter and micropores in a long-term experiment at Ultuna, Sweden, J.
Plant Nutr. Soil Sci., vol. 162, pp 493-498, 1999.
[20] A. Klute, Water Retention: Laboratory Methods. In Methods of Soil
Analysis, part 1. Physical and Mineralogical Methods, Agronomy
Monograph,vol. 9 (2nd edition). pp. 635-660, 1986.
[21] A. A. Maynard, Using MSW compost in nursery stock production,
BioCycle, vol. 39, pp 63-65, 1998.
[22] M. J. Mitchell, R Hartenstein, B L Swift, E F Neuhauser, B I Abrams, R
M Mulligan, B A Brown, D Craig and D Kaplan, Effects of different
sewage sludges on some chemical and biological characteristics of soil,
Journal of Environmental Quality, vol. 7, pp 551-559, 1978.
[23] T. M. Nechvatal and D T Michaud, Crop and soil responses to land
application of bottom ash, Proceedings - International Ash Use
Symposium. 9th GS-7162, vol. 3, 60, pp 1-19, 1991.
[24] A. M. O'Neal, A key for evaluating soil permeability by means of certain
field clues, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc., vol. 21, pp 355-359, 1952.
[25] R. Sébastien and A Delebarre, Removal of mercury in aqueous solution
by fluidized bed plant fly ash, Fuel, vol. 82, pp 153-159, 2003.
[26] A. Shiralipour, D B McConnell and W H Smith, Physical and chemical
properties of soils as affected by municipal solid waste compost
application, Biomass and Bioenergy, vol. 3, pp 261-266, 1992.
[27] J. J. Sloan, R H Dowdy, M S Dolan and G W Rehm, Plant and soil
responses to field-applied flue gas desulfurization residue, Fuel, vol. 78,
pp 169-174, 1999.
[28] O. Stabnikova, W K Goh, H B Ding, J H Tay and J Wang, The use of
sewage sludge and horticultural waste to develop artificial soil for plant
cultivation in Singapore, Bioresource Technology, vol. 96, pp 1073-
1080, 2005.
[29] L. P. Tan, J He and S K Lee, Growth of some tropical ornamental plants
on artificial topsoils derived from mixtures of fly ash, sludge, biochips,
and Rengam series subsoil, Journal of Plant Nutrition, vol. 27, pp 75-94,
2004.
[30] P. Taerakul, M Lamminen, H Walker and E E Harold, Water quality at
Roberts Dawson mine following injection of flue gas desulfurization byproduct.
Abstracts of Papers, 223rd ACS National Meeting, Orlando,
FL, United States, April 7-11, 2002.
[31] M. J. Tedesco, E C Teixeira, C Medina and A Bugin, Reclamation of
spoil and refuse material produced by coal mining using bottom ash and
lime, Environmental Technology, vol. 20, pp 523-529, 1999.
[32] G. L. Terman, V J Kilmer, C M Hunt and W Buchanan, Fluidized bed
boiler waste as a source of nutrients and lime, J Environ. Quality, vol. 7,
pp 147-150, 1978.
[33] R. Wallach, F F da silva and Y Chen, Unsaturated hydraulic
characteristics of composted agricultural wastes, tuff and their mixtures,
Soil Sci., vol. 153, pp 434-441, 1992a.
[34] R. Wallach R, F F da silva and Y. Chen, Hydraulic characteristics of
tuff (scoria) used as a container medium, J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., vol.
117, pp 415-421, 1992b.
[35] P. R. Warman and W C Termeer, Evaluation of sewage sludge, septic
waste and sludge compost applications to corn and forage: Ca, Mg, S,
Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and B content of crops and soils, Bioresource
Technology, vol. 96, pp 1029-1038, 2005.
[36] Warncke D, Greenhouse root media. In: Recommended Chemical Soil
Test Procedures for the North Central Region. NCR Publication No. 221.
Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Columbia, MO, USA. pp 61-
64, 1998.
@article{"International Journal of Biological, Life and Agricultural Sciences:61803", author = "Sougata Bardhan and Yona Chen and Warren A. Dick", title = "Recycling for Sustainability: Plant Growth Media from Coal Combustion Products, Biosolids and Compost", abstract = "Generation of electricity from coal has increased over
the years in the United States and around the world. Burning of coal
results in annual production of upwards of 100 millions tons (United
States only) of coal combustion products (CCPs). Only about a third
of these products are being used to create new products while the
remainder goes to landfills. Application of CCPs mixed with
composted organic materials onto soil can improve the soil-s
physico-chemical conditions and provide essential plant nutritients.
Our objective was to create plant growth media utilizing CCPs and
compost in way which maximizes the use of these products and, at
the same time, maintain good plant growth. Media were formulated
by adding composted organic matter (COM) to CCPs at ratios
ranging from 2:8 to 8:2 (v/v). The quality of these media was
evaluated by measuring their physical and chemical properties and
their effect on plant growth. We tested the media by 1) measuring
their physical and chemical properties and 2) the growth of three
plant species in the experimental media: wheat (Triticum sativum),
tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) and marigold (Tagetes patula).
We achieved significantly (p < 0.001) higher growth (7-130%) in the
experimental media containing CCPs compared to a commercial mix.
The experimental media supplied adequate plant nutrition as no
fertilization was provided during the experiment. Based on the
results, we recommend the use of CCPs and composts for the
creation of plant growth media.", keywords = "Coal ash, FGD gypsum, organic compost, and plant
growth media.", volume = "3", number = "3", pages = "165-7", }
