Growth of Biodiesel Plant in Flyash: A sustainable approach

Fly-ash, an inevitable waste of coal-fired thermal power plant has great potential in the area of plant growth due to its efficacy in modification of soil health and thereby the plant performance. In this study we analyze the effects of flyash on pigment content and photosynthetic rate in Jatropha curcus. The observations and results of the study indicate that Jatropha curcus grown in different amendments of soil and flyash showed an increase in chlorophyll content at 20% flyash in soil, but further declined with the increase in concentration of flyash (40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) in soil than control. Similar trends of the increase in photosynthetic rate of Jatropha curcus in 20% flyash amended soil and thereby decreased results at higher concentrations have also been observed which can thereby be directly correlated with the chlorophyll content of the plant. Thus the increase in both the parameters at low dose of flyash indicates the healthy growth status of Jatropha curcus Hence through the present venture we are utilizing a waste that is fly ash and using it for the growth of Jatropha curcus, a biodiesel plant which also helps in absorbing the greenhouse gases (CO2 AND CH4). (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the Asia-Pacific Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering Society (APCBEES)