Impact of the Fly Ashes from Biomass Combustion on the Yield and Quality of Green Forage of Corn ( Zea mays L.)

Andrzej Cezary Żołnowski (), Karol Janeczek, Elżbieta Rolka and Beata Żołnowska
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Andrzej Cezary Żołnowski: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Łódzki 4 Sq., 10-721 Olsztyn, Poland
Karol Janeczek: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Łódzki 4 Sq., 10-721 Olsztyn, Poland
Elżbieta Rolka: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Łódzki 4 Sq., 10-721 Olsztyn, Poland
Beata Żołnowska: Department of Agroecosystems and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Łódzki 3 Sq., 10-721 Olsztyn, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-23

Abstract: Energy production from burning biomass in bioheat plants involves the production of biomass fly ash (BFA). Due to its rich chemical composition, in the era of a circular economy, it should be reused, for example, for environmental purposes as a secondary raw material containing valuable macro- and micronutrients. Due to its alkaline nature, it can also be an alternative to commercial agricultural lime (CAL) for neutralizing the acidic reaction of agricultural soils. The basis for the presented research was a pot experiment with corn ( Zea mays L.) as a test plant and increasing doses of BFA (16.20, 32.40, and 48.60 g pot −1 ), which is equal to 6.99, 13.98, and 20.97 g of CAL pot −1 . The above doses were determined based on the neutralization value (NV) of BFA and CAL, calculated to neutralize the hydrolytic acidity of the soil (Hh) to 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 Hh. The study analyzed the effect of BFA on the leaf greenness index (SPAD), plant height, yield, and chemical composition of corn, as well as macronutrient content. The observations indicate that BFA application positively modified the yield of both fresh mass and dry mass of corn and height of plants, and reduced the dry matter content compared to the effect obtained after CAL use. BFA caused a decrease in the total N and Ca content and a significant increase in P, K, and Na compared to the CAL-fertilized treatments. BFA significantly contributed to a narrowing of the Ca:P, Ca:Mg ratios, and a widening of the K:(Ca + Mg), and K:Ca ratios compared to the ionic balance observed in the CAL-fertilized corn. The obtained results allow us to conclude that fly ash from biomass combustion can be a valuable alternative to conventional soil deacidification agents used till now in agriculture.

Keywords: biomass fly ash (BFA); corn; yield; SPAD; macronutrients; ion balance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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