Kisan Mela on “Use of Fly ash in Agriculture”
A Kisan Mela on “Utilization of Fly ash in Agriculture” was jointly organised by CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI) and Adani Power Maharashtra Ltd., (APML) at Tirora, near Gondia (Maharashtra) on 16th September 2016. About 80 local farmers attended the Kisan Mela from nearby villages. Dr. S. Das, the then Director, Dr. S. Murali, Principal Scientist CSIR-AMPRI and Dr. Rajiv Marathe, Principal Scientist, ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur addressed the farmers in the programme and provided the technical guidance to the farmers on safe use of Fly ash in agriculture.
CSIR-AMPRI scientists developed the innovative technology to improve fertility of wastelands with the application of Fly ash in requisite quantities to enhance the agricultural production and safeguard the environment. The technology demonstration project on “Use of Fly Ash in Agriculture” is being successfully executed by CSIR-AMPRI and sponsored by Adani Power Ltd., Ahmedabad. A Class-IV wasteland of about 1.50 acres was developed by the application of Fly ash @ 60 tonnes/ha (T1) and 110 tonnes/ha (T2) in separate treatments and compared with the control (T0), where ash was not applied. Paddy (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) crops were raised in kharif 2015 and rabi 2015-16 respectively.
With the application of Fly ash, the soil physical properties like Water Holding Capacity, texture and bulk density of the soils are modified favourably. The available major crop nutrients viz., phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and crop micro nutrients viz., copper, zinc, manganese, iron and boron in soils have increased significantly. The trace and heavy elements have little impact and the changes are not significant. As result of the enhanced fertility status of soils due to application of fly ash, the paddy crop yield increased by 17.34 % and 21.70% in T1 and T2 respectively over control. The wheat crop also got encouraging response in rabi 2015-16, with an increase of 11.26% and 13.59% in T1 and T2 over control respectively.
On 16th September, the PMC members reviewed the progress and offered suggestions for the successful execution of the project. The PMC meeting was attended by Dr. Vijay Suryavanshi, IAS, District Collector, Gondia, Dr. S. Das, Director, Dr. S. Murali, Principal Scientist, CSIR-AMPRI, Dr. Rajiv Marathe, Principal Scientist, ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur, Shri C.P. Sahoo, Station Head, Shri A.P. Singh, AGM (Environment), Heads of the Departments, APML, Tirora and Officials from Forest Department, Pollution Control Board and District Agriculture Department (Gondia) participated in the meeting. The members visited the project demonstration site and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project and its objective to serve the local farmers with the use of Fly ash.