UTILIZATION OF FLYASH/BIOSOLIDS AS SOIL AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE SOIL FERTILITY

Investigtors: Yuncong Li, Herbert Bryan
University of Florida
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), Tropical Research & Education Center
Peter J. Stoffella
University of Florida, IFAS, Indian River Research & Education Center.

Summary of third quarter report for the Emission Control By-products Consortium,
West Virginia University

A major limitation to crop yield in Florida are soils of inadequate physical and chemical properties. Most crops are grown on soils that have low holding capacities for water and nutrients and soil pH can range from 4.0-8.4. These soil constraints contribute to high input costs to the grower for crop maintenance. Addition of materials such as fly ash products (like N-Viro Soil) provide increased water retention, pH optimization and increased nutrient holding capacities.

A field investigation was conducted at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, FL that grew tomatoes in a typical polyethylene raised-bed culture. Fly ash/biosolids (N-Viro Soil from the Ft. Meade processing facility) compost treatments were applied at various rates and replicated four times. Plant growth, fruit yield, and fruit quality measurements were taken as well as soil samples where total nitrogen, inorganic nitrogen , organic carbon and other elements were measured.

Application of the fly ash/biosolids blend significantly increased total marketable tomato yield by 35-71%. Early fruit yield was increased more than 50% with the higher application of the fly ash/biosolid blend. The amount of large fruits was also higher on the treated plots when compared with the control plots.

(Also see link to Ashlines article, "Fly Ash. Pigs and Tomatoes."