Possibilities for the Use of Wood Ashes in Agriculture

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the agricultural usefulness of the ashes obtained following the combustion of wood of fourteen tree species (pear tree, apple tree, aspen, ash, alder, birch, poplar, hornbeam, pine, common walnut, oak, hazel, bird cherry and spruce) in home fireplaces. The following physical properties of the ashes were determined: colour, solubility, porosity, absorbability, compression strength, degree of fineness, moisture content and spreadability. In the ashes obtained from the combustion of wood in a fireplace furnace, the following parameters were determined: pH H2O , pH KCl (1 mole dm -3 KCl), pH CaCl2 (0.01 mole dm -3 CaCl 2 ) and total alkalinity in terms of the suitability of ashes as a liming agent. The contents of C tot. and N tot. were determined with a CHNS/O elemental analyser by Perkin-Elmer and the contents of other elements (macronutrients and heavy metals) were specified using the method of atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma ICP-AES. Wood ashes are a source of macronutrients for plants. Their contents can be presented in the following series of decreasing values: Ca > C > K > Mg > P > S > N. Out of 1 t of wood ash, approx. 160 kg C, 6 kg N, 20 kg P, 98 kg K, 302 kg Ca, 39 kg Mg and 18 kg S can be introduced into the soil. The content of heavy metals in the analysed ashes was low, and exceeded the acceptable standards for their content in waste materials intended for liming soils. The analysed ashes exhibit good physical and chemical properties. They can be suitable for use in agriculture as a liming agent to be applied on medium and heavy soils.

Chemical and mineral composition of ashes from wood biomass combustion in domestic wood-fired furnaces

“…Jakubus and Tatuśko (2016) analysed ashes from combustion of wood and found Mn content of 1088 ppm. Symanowicz et al (2018) determined Mn content in birch ashes at the level of 919.2 mg/kg, in beech at 840.2 mg/kg, alder at 421.5 mg/kg, and spruce at 945.7 mg/ kg.…”

“…According to Kajda-Szcześniak (2014), the highest Ni content was found in ash from the combustion of beech (187.2 mg/kg) and pine (36.98 mg/kg). According to Symanowicz et al (2018), Ni in ash from wood combustion ranges from 32.8 mg/kg (oak) to 91.3 mg/kg (birch). Data from subject literature are characterised by high variability of potentially toxic elements in wood biomass ash (Table 5).…”

Phytometric characteristics and chlorophyll index of “Paiaguás” grass (Urochloa brizantha) as a function of wood ash doses and soil water stress

“…In addition to increasing soil water retention, wood ash provided nutrients to Paiaguás grass, such as Ca, Mg, K and P, necessary for plant development. Symanowicz et al (2018), analyzed ashes and observed good physical and chemical properties and confirmed that they are a source of the macronutrients Ca, C, K, Mg, P, S and N for plants, being suitable for agricultural soils. Similarly, Bezerra et al (2016) investigated the effect of application of wood ash on growth of U. brizantha cv.…”

“…BRS Paiaguás presents as an alternative for pasture diversification in tropical regions, mainly during the dry season, as it has a high yield of leaves with good nutritive value, resulting in higher weight gains per animal per area (Valle et al, 2013;Euclides et al, 2016). Wood ash has been shown to neutralize soil acidity and provide nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and micronutrients, which are essential for plant growth and development (Chen et al, 2015;Symanowicz et al, 2018). Most of the bioenergy produced in the world is derived from plant biomass (Souza et al, 2017).…”

Analysis of the Energy Balance of Constructions Based on Wood during Their Use in Connection with CO2 Emissions

“…The use of wood as the main construction material is not possible for all types of structural solutions. It has statics-related and technological limitations depending on the limit conditions of its use [41]. The main barrier to more extensive use of wood in construction in Slovakia is a certain degree of prejudice and poor awareness of wood constructions among investors and constructors [42,43].…”