The purpose of present study was to find out whether wood ash with a high pH value and neutralizing capacity reduces 137Cs uptake by forest plants many years after the radionuclide fallout. The ...effects of one-time point fertilisation with 137Cs-contaminated and uncontaminated wood ash alone or in combination with KCl on 137Cs transfer from soil to young leaves and green shoots of various dwarf shrubs and tree species were examined in a long-term fertilisation experiment (2012–2021) conducted in Bazar mixed forest, around 70 km from Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The results indicated minor effects of soil fertilisation, although there were differences between 137Cs uptake by species and years. Soil amendment with 137Cs-contaminated wood ash generally did not affect 137Cs uptake by young shoots and leaves of plants over the growing season in the first year and only slightly decreased Tag for 137Cs in the following years. The effect of a single application of 137Cs-uncontaminated wood ash on reducing 137Cs uptake by plants was generally negligible. Application of 137Cs-contaminated wood ash in combination with KCl reduced plant 137Cs uptake by about 45%, however, such reduction was only significant in some years for bilberry berries, young leaves and green shoots of lingonberry and alder buckthorn. Thus application of wood ash to 137Cs-contaminated forest soil many years after radionuclide fallout generally does not reduce 137Cs uptake by forest vegetation in a mixed forest ecosystem and this countermeasure should be applied with caution.
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•Wood ash and KCl fertilisation don't result in consistent decrease of 137Cs uptake.•Effect of non-contaminated wood ash on 137Cs uptake was not detectable.•137Cs-contaminated wood ash caused small or no response on 137Cs uptake.•137Cs-contaminated wood ash + KCl decreases 137Cs uptake only marginally.•Fertilisation of forest soil with wood ash and KCl should be applied with cautions.
Soil acidification is a major problem in modern agricultural systems and is an important factor affecting the soil microbial community and soil health. However, little is known about the effect of ...soil acidification on soil-borne plant diseases. We performed a 4-year investigation in South China to evaluate the correlation between soil acidification and the occurrence of bacterial wilt. The results showed that the average soil pH in fields infected by bacterial wilt disease was much lower than that in non-disease fields. Moreover, the proportion of infected soils with pH lower than 5.5 was much higher than that of non-infected soils, and this phenomenon became more obvious as the area of bacterial wilt disease increased at soil pH lower than 5.5 from 2011 to 2014. Then, in a field pot experiment, bacterial wilt disease developed more quickly and severely in acidic conditions of pH 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5. These results indicate that soil acidification can cause the outbreak of bacterial wilt disease. Further experiments showed that acidic conditions (pH 4.5-5.5) favored the growth of the pathogen
but suppressed the growth and antagonistic activity of antagonistic bacteria of
and
. Moreover, acidic conditions of pH 5.5 were conducive to the expression of the virulence genes
, and
but restrained resistance gene expression in tobacco. Finally, application of wood ash and lime as soil pH amendments improved soil pH and reduced the occurrence of bacterial wilt. Together, these findings improve our understanding of the correlation between soil acidification and soil-borne plant diseases and also suggest that regulation of soil acidification is the precondition and foundation of controlling bacterial wilt.
Quercus wood was used for thermal energy production, and wood bottom ash (WDBA) was used as a medium for water purification and soil fertilizer in accordance with the recently proposed ...food-water-energy nexus concept. The wood contained a gross calorific value of 14.83 MJ kg−1, and the gas generated during thermal energy production has the advantage of not requiring a desulfurization unit due to its low sulfur content. Wood-fired boilers emit less CO2 and SOX than coal boilers. The WDBA had a Ca content of 66.0%, and Ca existed in the forms of CaCO3 and Ca(OH)2. WDBA absorbed P by reacting with Ca in the form of Ca5(PO4)3OH. Kinetic and isotherm models revealed that the results of the experimental work were in good agreement with the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively. The maximum P adsorption capacity of WDBA was 76.8 mg g−1, and 6.67 g L−1 of WDBA dose could completely remove P in water. The toxic units of WDBA tested using Daphnia magna were 6.1, and P adsorbed WDBA (P-WDBA) showed no toxicity. P-WDBA was used as an alternative P fertilizer for rice growth. P-WDBA application resulted in significantly greater rice growth in terms of all agronomic values compared to N and K treatments without P. This study proposed the utilization of WDBA, obtained from thermal energy production, to remove P from wastewater and replenish P in the soil for rice growth.
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•The wood bottom ash left over from thermal energy production was used for P removal.•Wood-fired boilers emitted less CO2 and SOX than coal boilers.•The maximum P adsorption capacity of WDBA was 76.8 mg g−1.•P-WDBA can be utilized as an alternative P fertilizer for cultivating rice.
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•A rare wood ash glass tessera from Malbork Madonna was studied in detail.•It was found to be original mediaeval, from the area north of Alps, coloured by Co.•Opacification was ...achieved by Ca-phosphate grains, a Mediterranean technology.•Two phases detected in tessera for the first time: leucite and pseudowollastonite.•Pseudowollastonite indicates production temperature above ca. 1125 °C.
While the natron and plant ash glass tesserae may be found on places of importance across the former Roman and Byzantine empires, wood ash glass tesserae are scarce. This is the first time a wood ash glass tessera is studied in detail. It was part of a magnificent 8-metres tall statue of Madonna in Malbork, Poland, created at the end of the 14th century and destroyed at the end of World War Two. It was found to be coloured by cobalt with possible impact of copper, and opacified by Ca-phosphate. Processes previously described in sodium-rich glasses were observed also in the studied potassium-rich wood ash glass tessera, such as diffusion of the respective alkali metal into the Ca-phosphate grains. The elemental composition of the tessera indicates that it is original – mediaeval, from the area north of Alps. Two phases were identified for the first time, to authors’ best knowledge, in any glass tessera – leucite (tetragonal KAlSi2O6) and pseudowollastonite (monoclinic CaSiO3). As pseudowollastonite is a high-temperature phase, it may serve as an indicator of production temperature, which was further supported by the study of polymerisation index of model glasses. This study contributes to the knowledge of old technologies and showed that the know-how for opacification was imported from the Mediterranean, while the raw materials employed for the base glass preparation were from the area north of Alps.
The regeneration dynamics of sugar maple-dominated stands in northeastern North America are intricately influenced by global changes such as soil acidification, invasive species, forest management, ...and climate shifts. A notable challenge is the expansion of American beech and its bark disease, threatening mature trees and ecosystem services. Although sylvicultural practices aim to control beech regeneration and enhance high-value species, their impact on understory plant communities remains poorly documented. In Valcartier, eastern Canada, we conducted a field experiment to assess the short-term effects of soil scarification and diverse soil amendments (nitrogen fertilization, liming, wood ash) on understory plant communities in a beech-invaded sugar maple stand. Over four years, we inventoried vegetation and measured various biotic and abiotic variables. Results showed that soil scarification significantly reduced diversity metrics like Simpson dominance, functional diversity, and redundancy (a metric correlated to community stability and resilience to disturbance). Negative effects of scarification were exacerbated by nitrogen, lime, or wood ash additions. Lime amendment without scarification enhanced diversity, suggesting its potential to support understory community stability. While scarification and amendments can promote sugar maple, yellow birch, and pin cherry seedling establishment, they have collateral effects on the understory, impacting productivity, diversity, and resilience in the short term. Land managers should exercise caution when combining these treatments, as they may transiently alter the stability and resilience of the understory and other forest functions. A more sustainable approach involves applying scarification and amendments on small, well-distributed patches within the targeted stands for treatment, avoiding extensive application over large areas.
•Scarification reduced the stability and resilience of the plant community.•Negative effects of scarification are amplified by fertilizer, lime, or ash.•Lime has the potential to support plant community stability and resilience.•Seasonality and current site conditions shape plant diversity structure.•Scarification would be advisable to use only on well-dispersed patches.
The application to soils of energy co-products derived from forest biomass (biochar BC and wood ash WA) with the aim of regulating soil hydraulic conductivity and water availability, thereby reducing ...soil erosion and increasing resilience to drought, has been suggested as a strategy for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of BC and WA application on the hydraulic properties of contrasting afforested soils in the Atlantic region of the Iberian Peninsula. Two experimental sites were established on acidic soils: site ES-K was established on a loamy soil (SOC% 3.9; pH: 4.8) and site ES-O on a sandy loam soil (SOC% 10.8; pH: 3.8). Biochar derived from Miscanthus sp. (pyrolysed at 450°C: containing 87% C) was applied at rates of 0, 3.5 and 10Mgha−1 to soil in ES-K and at rates of 0, 10 and 20Mgha−1 to soil in ES-O. Pine WA (30% C) was applied at rates of 0, 1.5 and 4.5Mgha−1 to ES-K, and at rates of 0, 4.5 and 9Mgha−1 to ES-O. Nitrogen- enriched (0.8% N) BC and WA were also applied at rates of respectively 10Mgha−1 and 4.5Mgha−1 in both experimental sites. Bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), porosity and aggregate size distribution were determined and soil water retention curves (SWRCs) constructed. In ES-K, application of N-enriched WA (4.5Mgha−1) led to alterations in the SWRCs and reduced the available water capacity (AWC) by 11.5%; the lowest dose of WA (1.5Mgha−1) reduced Ks due to pore-clogging. In ES-O, changes were observed in the soil structure after application of BC (20Mgha−1) and WA (9Mgha−1) as well as after application of the N-enriched materials. However, no effects on available water content or saturated hydraulic conductivity were observed fifteen months after the treatments. Further field research is required to determine the soil specific, long-lasting effects of BC and WA on soil structure and soil hydraulic properties.
•N-enriched biochar and wood ash altered the shape of SWRC of a Typic Udorthent.•Low dose of wood ash (1.5Mgha−1) caused pore clogging in a Typic Udorthent.•Biochar at 20Mgha−1 changed soil structure but not SWRC in a Typic Dystrudept.•Wood ash at 9Mgha−1 changed soil structure and SWRC in a Typic Dystrudept.•Nitrogen effect in soil structure and hydraulic properties is soil specific.
Fifteen microcosms were installed in the Åkerberg pit lake for 15 days in the summer season (July) 2021. To stimulate algal growth, the microcosms were fertilized with two P-rich wood ashes, and ...KNO3. Chlorophyll-a was used as an indicator of algal growth while filtered (<0.2 μm) and particulate suspended element concentrations (>0.2 μm) were used to estimate algal metal uptake. Water quality measurements and water sampling were conducted on three occasions (every five days) and at the start of the experiment to monitor algal growth. The chlorophyll-a concentration in the microcosms fertilized with wood ash increased from 0.3-0.8 μg/L at the start of the experiment to 53–77 μg/L after 15 days. Algal element uptake of filtered concentrations (<0.2 μm) was observed for many elements including, Ni (33–36%), Zn (22–65%) and Cd (22–54%). This suggests that wood ash could be used to stimulate algal growth in pit lakes by acting as a source for P and potentially also other nutrients. The highest chlorophyll-a concentrations were seen on day 10, indicating that a breakdown of chlorophyll-a impacted the measured concentrations, which otherwise could have been higher.
•Microcosms fertilized with N and wood ash had increased chlorophyll-a concentrations.•Algal element uptake was seen for several elements including Ni, Zn and Cd.•The results suggest that wood ash fertilization could stimulate algal growth in pit lakes.
Magnetic Oak wood ash/Graphene oxide (Ash/GO/Fe3O4) nanocomposites were designed as a high potentadsorbentin the removal of toxic heavy metals such as Lead (Pb(II)) and Cadmium (Cd(II)) ions from ...aquatic medium. Characterization of Ash/GO/Fe3O4 samples was carried out using FESEM, TEM, EDX mapping, BET/BJH, XRD, FTIR, and VSM methods. The obtained results confirmed the successful synthesis of Ash/GO/Fe3O4 nanocomposites. In the adsorption process, almost complete adsorption efficiency of produced Ash/GO/Fe3O4 nanocomposite was attained under the optimized conditions (99.67% and 98.68% for Pb(II) and Cd(II) adsorption, respectively). The modeling results of kinetics indicated that the mechanism of Pb(II) and Cd(II) adsorption process well fitted by pseudo-second order equation with a high regression coefficient (99.67%). In addition, the equilibrium data were described well by non-linear Langmuir model with the highest adsorption capacity of 47.16 mg/g and 43.66 mg/g for Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions, respectively, which prove the effective adsorption ability of the magnetic nanocomposite. The spontaneous and exothermic nature of adsorption process was confirmed through thermodynamics analyses. The reusability of synthesized Ash/GO/Fe3O4 nanocomposites were demonstrated with negligible decrease in adsorption and high stability up to 8 repetitive adsorption cycles. The mechanism of Pb(II) and Cd(II) adsorption on the Ash/GO/Fe3O4 nanocomposite was assessed.
With increasing industrialization, the industrial byproducts (wastes) are being accumulated to a large extent, leading to environmental and economic concerns related to their disposal (land filling). ...Wood ash is the residue produced from the incineration of wood and its products (chips, saw dust, bark) for power generation or other uses. Cement is an energy extensive industrial commodity and leads to the emission of a vast amount of greenhouse gases, forcing researchers to look for an alternative, such as a sustainable building practice. This paper presents an overview of the work and studies done on the incorporation of wood ash as partial replacement of cement in concrete from the year 1991 to 2012. The aspects of wood ash such as its physical, chemical, mineralogical and elemental characteristics as well as the influence of wood ash on properties such as workability, water absorption, compressive strength, flexural rigidity test, split tensile test, bulk density, chloride permeability, freeze thaw and acid resistance of concrete have been discussed in detail.
This study analyzes the feasibility of using biomass combustion ash waste (rice husk or wood ash from boards) as secondary raw materials in the manufacture of clay bricks.
The ash was characterized ...using particle size distribution analysis, chemical composition analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermal analysis, elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Either rice husk ash or wood ash was used to replace different amounts (10–30wt%) of clay in brick manufacture. Brick samples were formed by compression at 54.5MPa and fired at temperatures of 900 or 1000°C for 4h, at a heating rate of 3°C/min. The bricks’ properties were compared to conventional products containing only clay and prepared following standard procedures. The bricks’ technological properties depended on type and amount of ash used, and firing temperature. The results showed small variations due to firing temperature. Firing at 1000°C achieved greater densification and thus lower water absorption and higher compressive strength firing at 900°C produced higher porosity, which reduced compressive strength. Based on the results, 1000°C was selected as the optimal firing temperature; and 10wt% rice husk ash and 20wt% wood ash as the optima amounts of biomass ash waste. Moreover, the bricks containing wood ash showed properties similar to the control bricks containing only clay and improved thermal conductivity. Finally, the bricks containing 10wt% rice husk ash and 30wt% wood ash fulfilled standard requirements for clay masonry units.
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