EVALUATION OF FLY-ASH AS A SOIL AMENDMENT FOR THE ATLANTIC COASTAL-PLAIN .2. SOIL CHEMICAL-PROPERTIES AND CROP GROWTH

Crop yields in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the U.S.A. are limited by the low moisture-holding capacities of the sandy soils common to the region. Corn was grown in a Hammonton loamy sand soil amended with fly ash (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40%) to determine if the ash rates require d to improve soil moisture holding capacity would adversely affect pla nt growth, or soil and plant levels of nutrients and heavy metals. Fly ash increased soil test levels of P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, B, Cd, Cr , Ni, and Pb. Nutrient concentrations in plants grown in the ash-amend ed soils, except P, Mn, and B, remained within established sufficiency ranges. The 20 and 40% ash rates increased soil soluble salt (EC) lev els from 0.2 to 1.1-1.5 and 1.7-2.1 mmho cm(-1), soil pH from 5.6 to 5 .0-6.4 or 6.3-6.9, and extractable B from 0.2 to 2.2-5.9 and 2.29.0 mg kg(-1). Fly ash reduced corn germination, delayed seedling emergence, and reduced root and shoot dry weights. Plant B concentrations at the 40% ash rate were in the phytotoxic range (136-189 mg kg(-1)). Manage ment practices that allow for pre-leaching of B and soluble salts will likely be required to attain satisfactory corn growth in ash-amended soils.