EVALUATION OF WOOD ASH DISPOSAL ON AGRICULTURAL LAND .1. POTENTIAL AS A SOIL ADDITIVE AND LIMING AGENT

This study evaluated wood ash as an agricultural fertilizer and liming material. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and poplar (Populus sp.) were grown in a greenhouse on six different Idaho soils amended with different ash concentrations. At ash levels equal to or lower than 2%, no detrimental plant growth effects were observed. In fact, the biomass of the wheat and the caliper and height of the poplar cuttings increased more at 2% ash (40 mt/ha) than with the control soil. These results suggest that wood ash could be used in agricultural applications as a low analysis fertilizer containing K and/or a liming agent. Land application of wood ash could be less expensive and more environmentally sound than present landfilling practices.