Yona Chen, Tsila Aviad, Ori Migdal The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Transcription

1 Yona Chen, Tsila Aviad, Ori Migdal The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

2 Aims of research Chemical and physical characterization of coal cinder from power plants. Evaluation of the chemical and physical properties of bottom coal cinder in light of its potential use as a container medium. Evaluation as above for coal cinder mixtures with composts.

3 Tel Phares (2007)

4 Sieving site (Ashklon power station)

5 The product (coal cinder)

6 Organic and inorganic materials used in this study Composted grape marc Composted separated manure Coal ash Volcanic ash (Tuff)

7 Leaching of volcanic ash (tuff), size fraction 0-8 mm, with a nutrient solution containing (mg L -1 ): N-90 ; P-17 ; K-130 ;ph-5.6 ; E.C.=0.84 dsim/m ; P (ppm) P P-solution K K-solution K (ppm) No. of pore volumes

8 Leaching of coal cinder, size fraction 0-8 mm, with a nutrient solution containing (mg L -1 ): N-90 ; P-17 ; K-130 ;ph-5.6 ; E.C.=0.84 dsim/m ; P (ppm) P P-solution K K-solution K (ppm) No. of pore volumes

9 15 Phosphorus removal from the solution P (µmol/g) Coal ash + compost ph 8 ph P concentration (mm) 10 5 Tuff + compost ph 8 ph 6 P (µmol/g) P concentration (mm)

10 Water Content (% volume) Water retention curve Matric Potential (milibar) Mazait + compost Tuff + compost commercial substrate -100 Substrate Air content 0-10 milibar Easily available water milibar Water buffering capacity milibar Mazait + compost Tuff + compost Commercial substrate Ideal substrate

11 Particle size distribution of volcanic ash and coal cinder following a prolonged irrigation regime Particle size distribution of tuff (size 0-8 mm) before and after irrigation Particle size distribution of coal cinder (size mm) before and after irrigation Percent of total weight Before irrigation After irrigation Percent of total weight Before irrigation After irrigation (%) 0 > <0.5 (%) 0 > <1.0 Range (mm) Range (mm)

12 Melons yields grown on different media in Chatzeva (Arava region) 8 7 A B B A Weight (ton/dunam) C C Fruit weight Defects Over Sand Sand + compost Tuff Tuff + compost *Coal ash + Peat *Coal ash + compost *industrial coal ash

13 Carnation Yield Yield (10 pots) Total cuttings weight (g) No. of cuttings Cinder+Compost Coarse cinder+compost Tuff+Compost

14 Cumulative yield of cherry tomatoes grown on coal cinder or volcanic ash mixed with compost (a commercial greenhouse in the Jordan valley) 60 Cumulative Yield (ton/hectar) *Coal ash+compost Tuff+Compost 0 11/11 21/11 1/12 11/12 21/12 31/12 10/1 Date *(power plant coal ash)

15 Tomato yields grown on different media in Kadesh Barnea (Central Negev Region) Kg Perlite Ash Tuff

16 Trace elements concentration in pepper fruits (mg/kg dry matter) Element coal ash + compost Tuff + Compost Cd Co Cr Mo Ni Pb *L.D.B *L.D.B B.D.L Below Detection Limit* *industrial coal ash

17 Trace elements concentration in melon fruits (mg/kg dry matter) Element coal ash + compost Tuff + Compost Cd Co Cr Mo Ni Pb *industrial coal ash

18 Trace elements concentration in wine of coal ash amended vineyard (mg/kg dry matter) Concentration (mgl -1 ) *Max. Conc. In Drinking Water (mgl -1 ) Al 1.52 B 18.6 BO 3 =50 (=9.2 B) Ba Cr Cu Ni 0.02 Pb Sr Zn As < Cd < Hg < Se <

19 Concentrations of radionuclides in agricultural produce Aim: To measure radionuclides levels in produce grown on coal and volcanic ash, and to compare these to health standards. Tested: 40 K, 226 Ra, 232 Th Results: No significant differences were found in radionuclides concentration between produce grown on volcanic and coal ash. Conclusions: Coal and volcanic ash are safe container media for food crop production

20 Peat Mix Coarse Cinder + Compost Cinder + Compost Tuff + Compost Croton plants grown on a commercial peat mix and on a mixture of coal cinder or tuff compost (grape arc:separated manure 1:1)

21 Gerbera grown on a mixture of coal ash and compost in a commercial greenhouse

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23 Pepper growth in coal cinder (Pharan, Arava region). Trench padded with agricultural cloth permeable to water filled with coal cinder+compost (3:1 v/v) Advantages: overcoming lack of soil, reduced water consumption due to limited root zone and optimal water suction level.

24 Cherry tomatoes on Coal ash with compost (70:30 v/v) 8 years of use (Fatzael-Jorden Vally)

25 Pepper plants (Zofar, Arava). Left - in coal cinder +compost ; Right local soil

26 Commercial tomato greenhouse (Kadesh Barnea)

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29 Summary and conclusions Chemical analyses: ph of the leachate ranges from 7-8. Levels of potentially toxic elements (including B) are low (below critical levels). Excessive salts are leachable. P is removed from the solution at the early stages of plant growth. Organic matter prevents this process. No K fixation was found. Physical analyses: No degradation of particles during a lengthy leaching period. Water retention curves exhibit low water holding capacity. It can however be enhanced by compost additions.

30 Summary and conclusions Compost additions also result in: - Enhanced plant growth. - Improved buffer capacity. - Suppressiveness to soil borne diseases. The recommended level of compost addition is 25-40% (v/v). Plant growth experiments in commercial and experimental greenhouses show that mixtures of coal cinder with composts support plant productivity at least to the level obtained in volcanic ash grown plants.

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