Fly Ash And Its Utilization In Indian Agriculture: Constraints And Opportunities

Indian electricity generation is majorly dependent on thermal energy by burning the coal producing large amount of fly ash as by-product. Dumping and disposal of fly ash in ponds and land is a routine practice which raises various environmental concerns. Hence, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Govt. of India has made continuous efforts for proper utilization and disposal of fly ash. This by-product's rich nutrient content has opened doors for its utilization in agriculture rising a tremendous potential in improving crop productivity and soil health. Besides its nutrient efficiency, fly ash treatment showed a significant result in agricultural insect-pest control. However, agricultural use of fly ash is quite limited in comparison to other sectors of India. MoEFCC has revised norms of fly ash usage and also made a mandate for supplying fly ash free of cost to farmers in the radius of three hundred kilometres. Fly ash is also an excellent substitute for reclamation of low-lying areas and helps in restoration and protection of topsoil layer; with an ever-increasing demand for electricity production in India, fly ash production will also increase. Thus, it is high time to explore the untapped potential of fly ash utilization in Indian agriculture for its sustainable management particularly for timber, ornamental, jute and fibre crops and other agriculture and food systems after proper quality testing.