Phytoremediation of Flyash by Assessing Growth Responses of the Local Tree Species
Divya Agarwal1*, Manoj K. Agarwal2, Mohammad Yunus 3 and S.K. Gautam4
1Assosiate Prof., Dept. of Applied Sciences & Humanities, Accurate Institute of Management & Technology, Greater Noida, India.
bProfessor, D.J. College of Engineering & Technology, Modinagar, India
3School for Environmental Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (Central) University, Lucknow, India.
4Research Scholar, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Engineering & Management, Mathura, U.P., India.
Flyash is the coal combustion residue generated in bulk quantities from thermal power generation in India. Disposal of flyash is of serious environmental concern due to its hazardous properties, impact on vegetation and crops grown,and long-term risks to ecosystems and human life. Physico-chemical properties of flyash from the Feroz Gandhi Unchahar Thermal Power Plant (FGUTPP), Raebareilly in Uttar Pradesh (India) were compared with that of Garden Soil (GS). Plants of Terminalia arjuna, Bauhinia variegata and Morus alba were grown on flyash substrate to understand the potential of phytoremediation in reclaiming the flyash dumpsites. The plant growth was analysed in different combinations of flyash and garden soil: 100% flyash (T1), 75% flyash and 25% GS (T2), 50% flyash and 50% GS (T3), 25% flyash and 75% GS (T4). Different morphological viz. Shoot & root growth, and physiological parameters of plant growth viz. Chlorophyll, Protein and Nitrate Reductase were analysed. Results of the study are directly useful in developing phytoremediation protocols for flyash disposal sites of application of flyash as a blend to the plantation areas.
