UPTAKE OF MULTIELEMENTS BY CORN FROM FLY-ASH COMPOST AMENDED SOIL

Fly ash was collected from a coal-fired power plant in and near the U. S. Department of Energy Savannah River Site to study the feasibility o f the application of fly ash compost mixture to soils for the availabi lity and uptake of various elements by corn (Zea mays L.). The crop wa s grown in potted Ogeechee sandy loam soil using eight treatments: soi l alone, soil amended with 15% compost, and soil amended with 2, 5, 10 , 15, 20 and 25% of fly ash-amended compost. It was observed that 20-2 5% fly ash and compost soil ratio treatments generally increased plant growth and the yield. The plant uptake of K, Mn, and Cu increased wit h increasing percentages (2-25%) of fly ash+compost: soil ratios. The total content of K in plants was positively correlated with the dry ma tter yield of corn. This study indicates that the application of fly a sh blended with compost to soil is beneficial to corn production witho ut causing any deleterious effects on plant growth and plant compositi on.