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Research & Reviews : Journal of Ecology Original Research

Impact of Fly Ash Pollution on Quality of Agricultural Soils Around Thermal Power Station

  1. Mahendra G. Thakre Centre for Higher Learning and Research, Department of Environmental Science, Sardar Patel College, Chandrapur
  2. Pallavi D. Nasare Centre for Higher Learning and Research, Department of Environmental Science, Sardar Patel College, Chandrapur
  3. Sayyed Juned A Centre for Higher Learning and Research, Department of Environmental Science, Sardar Patel College, Chandrapur

Abstract

The coal-fired Khaparkheda Thermal Power Station (KTPS) and its fly ash pond in Nagpur District, Maharashtra, India has been responsible for serious fly ash pollution incidents of agricultural soil. The present study was carried out on the quality of soil samples around the fly ash pond and KTPS. The physicochemical and chemical characteristics of soil samples were observed to be affected due to fly ash pollution. The fertility of soil samples was lower under the impact of fly ash pollution than the unimpacted soil samples. Heavy metal concentrations (lead, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic) were more than the concentrations of trace nutrient metals (copper zinc, nickel, and iron), as the source of trace metals in soil is natural geological while toxic heavy metals is anthropogenic. The statistical analysis indicated anthropogenic source of metal pollution to the soil. The soil samples nearer to fly ash pond and KTPS were more polluted with heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, As, and Cu) and traced nutrient metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, and Fe) than the distant soil samples. Research on the cost-effective phytoremediation measures to mitigate the impacts of fly ash pollution on soil and for eco-restoration of fly ash dumps is presented.

Keywords

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