The effect of ash from thermal power station on the heavy metal content of Festuca arundinacea and Festuca pratensis

Abstract

Due to its biological activities, adsorption and absorption properties, the soil can function as a cleaning
system for many industrial pollutants in moderate concentrations. Because of the microelement content of
ash, it can be used for improvement of acid soils or with microelement deficit. The present paper describes
the possibilities of using thermal power station ash as amendment and source of microelements for two
gramineous species, used as forage and energetic plants. For the experiment design we used randomized
blocks with 3 repetitions. The ash was incorporated in soil before sowing of Festuca arundinacea and
Festuca pratensis species. Experimental variants were the following: V0 – 0 t/ha non-treated control, V1 – 1
t/ha, V2 – 3 t/ha and V3 – 5 t/ha ash. Plant samples were collected from the above-ground organs, one year
after sowing. Heavy metal content was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy method. Regarding
the metal content, the data show that the application of ashes in different dosages had similar effects on both
of the gramineous species. The zinc content decreases slightly with the increase of ash dosage at both of the
species. Compared to control variant, the copper content increases directly with the amount of applied ash at
Festuca arundinacea and decreases at Festuca pratensis. Cobalt, nickel and manganese concentrations
presented an increase due to higher ash concentrations at both of the plant species compared to control. From
all of the assessed metal contents, manganese presented the highest concentrations in plants. The
concentrations are low compared to non-treated control, thus there was no toxicity effect of the studied heavy
metals from thermal power station ashes.