Effectiveness of Coal Combustion By‐Products in Controlling Phosphorus Export from Soils

• Published in: Journal of environmental quality 2000-07, Vol.29 (4), p.1239-1244
• Main Authors: Stout, William L., Sharpley, Andrew N., Landa, Jennifer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Brassica napus; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Natural water pollution; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Rainwaters, run off water and others; Soil and water pollution; Soil science; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0047-2425; 1537-2537
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq2000.00472425002900040030x

Phosphorus (P) export from high P soils is a major cause of eutrophication in fresh waters. Recent work has shown that the solubility of P in high P soils can be reduced with coal combustion by‐products (CCBs), decreasing the potential for dissolved phosphorus (DP) export from these soils. However, the effect of such treatments on plant‐available P and P export has not been quantified. We measured P uptake by canola (Brassica napus L.) from three high P (130–370 mg kg−1 Mehlich‐3 P) soils treated with two CCBs, fluidized bed combustion flyash (FBC), flue gas desulfurization (FGD) CaSO4 anhydride, and agricultural gypsum (GYP). We measured DP, particulate phosphorus (PP), and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in runoff from grassed and bare soils treated with these materials and subjected to simulated runoff. Phosphorus, As, Cd, and Pb uptake by canola were unaffected by CCB treatment, and dry‐matter yields were unrelated to treatment. On grassed soils, FBC, FGD, and GYP reduced DP concentration in runoff by 20, 43, and 33%, respectively, but did not affect As, Cd, or Pb concentrations in runoff. Also on grassed soils, the high application rate of FGD reduced TP in runoff by 35%. On bare soils where erosion of PP controlled P loss, CCBs and GYP had no effect on DP concentration in runoff. Application of CCBs to high P soils in zones of high surface runoff potential, where there is little erosion, has the potential to reduce P export without affecting crop production.