Effects of wood, peat and coal ash fertilization on Scots pine foliar nutrient concentrations and growth on afforested former agricultural peat soils

Abstract

Hytönen, J. 2003. Effects of wood, peat and coal ash fertilization on Scots pine foliar nutrient concentrations and growth on afforested former agricultural peat soils. Silva Fennica 37(2): 219-234.The effects of ash and commercial fertilizers on the foliar nutrient concentrations and stand growth of Scots pine were studied in four fi eld experiments established on former cultivated peat soils. The aims were to compare ash types (wood, peat and coal ash), study the effects of ash treatment (pelletization), compare ash fertilization with commercial fertilizers, and to study the interaction between ash fertilization and weed control. Foliar samples were collected 1-3 years and 7-8 years after fertilization.In the unfertilized plots, the foliar nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were fairly high, while those of potassium were low in all the experiments. The boron levels were low in three out of the four experiments. Application of either loose or pelletized wood ash, as well as of commercial fertilizers, increased foliar potassium and boron concentrations, and thus successfully remedied the existing nutrient imbalances and defi ciencies. Since phosphorus defi ciencies are rarely encountered on fi eld afforestation sites, poorquality wood ash with low phosphorus concentration could be used. Peat ash containing phosphorus, but only small amounts of potassium and boron, was not found to be very suitable for soil amelioration in connection with fi eld afforestation. Coal ash, containing only small amounts of potassium, was a good source of boron for pine even when used in small amounts, and thus it can be used in cases where boron defi ciencies alone are encountered. Wood ash signifi cantly increased the height growth of Scots pines in two of the experiments, but peat ash and coal ash had no statistically signifi cant effect. Wood ash increased the number of healthy seedlings. Vegetation control decreased seedling mortality by 24%, increased the growth of pine and decreased the proportion of trees damaged by elk and by deciduous trees.

Biomass ashes and their phosphorus fertilizing effect on different crops

“…Patterson et al (2004) found a total P concentration of 0.6% in wood waste ash (wood, bark, and knots). In investigations by Erich and Ohno (1992), Saarsalmi et al (2001), and Hytönen (2003) wood ashes contained 0.9-1.7% P. In general, hardwood ash has more P than ash of softwood (Pitman 2006). P concentrations of more than 1% were detected in peat ash (1.3%, Hytönen 2003), in saw dust ash (1.3%, Awodun 2007), and in different straw ashes: wheat straw ash (1.3%), barley straw ash (1.7%), rye straw ash (1.6%), and rape straw ash (2.1%) (Sander and Andrén 1997).…”

“…In investigations by Erich and Ohno (1992), Saarsalmi et al (2001), and Hytönen (2003) wood ashes contained 0.9-1.7% P. In general, hardwood ash has more P than ash of softwood (Pitman 2006). P concentrations of more than 1% were detected in peat ash (1.3%, Hytönen 2003), in saw dust ash (1.3%, Awodun 2007), and in different straw ashes: wheat straw ash (1.3%), barley straw ash (1.7%), rye straw ash (1.6%), and rape straw ash (2.1%) (Sander and Andrén 1997). For sewage sludge ashes, a total P concentration from 2 to 9% can be assumed (Jakobsen and Willett 1986;Zhang et al 2002;Franz 2008).…”

Phosphorus Fertilizing Effects of Biomass Ashes

“…The objectives of our work were to evaluate the P fertilizing effect of biomass ashes on different soils, and to investigate possible interactions between the effects of ashes and cultivated crops. (Jamil et al 2004) 0.01 Alfalfa stem ash (Mozaffari et al 2002) 0.90 Horticulture ashes (Zhang et al 2002) 0.04-1.00 Wood ashes (Erich and Ohno 1992;Saarsalmi et al 2001;Hyt€ onen 2003) 0.90-1.70 Wheat straw ash (Hyt€ onen 2003) 1.30 Rape straw ash (Hyt€ onen 2003) 2.10 Poultry litter ash (Yusiharni 2001;Codling et al 2002) 5.00 Cereal ash (Eichler et al 2008b) 10.4…”

Opportunities and challenges in the use of coal fly ash for soil improvements – A review

“…Concentrations of P in wood ashes are also relatively higher than CFA and range between 0.90 and 1.70% (Demeyer et al, 2001;Saarsalmi et al, 2001;Hyt€ onen, 2003). However, similar to CFA, P in wood ash remains relatively insoluble.…”