Many believe that flyash generated from thermal power plants is hazardous to human health and ecology, however, an extensive study conducted by C.V. Patil, eminent agriculture scientist and retired director of education, University of Agriculture Sciences, Raichur (UAS­R) refutes these believes.
On the contrary, his research have proved that the flyash improves crop yield, acts as pest control and helps in retaining/improving soil fertility.
In his over two decades of research, Dr. Patil who is also former member of Karnataka Krishi Mission, has conducted numerous field trials and presented several papers in various premiere institutions of the country where he is shown how the flyash comes as boon for the farmers.
Stating that the country is producing around 265 million tonnes of flyash every year, of which, on 55 per cent had been used for various purposes. “In that, mere 2 per cent of flyash is being used in India in agriculture despite having its great potential”, he said.
Claiming that the chemical components of flyash are quite similar to that of the soil, Dr. Patil said that flyash could well be used as ‘second generation soil’ in agriculture for higher yield and improving soil fertility.
On the field trial, he said that during his research, he conducted the test using flyash on different soils, different crops, irrigated and dry land.
“Surprisingly, each trail gave encouraging results as the presence of flyash increased the output by more than double because it has chemical components that is needed by the crops and the special caricaturist of flyash of capturing moisture for longer time than the soil. Because of the lower density, the flyash helps in easier germination of plants”, Mr. Patil said.
Dr. Patil said that with the mixture of 30 tonnes of flyash in each hectare land, the yield of groundnut has increased by 109 per cent, sunflower by 22 per cent, maize by 32 per cent and paddy by 34 per cent.
On the apprehensions raised by some people that the foodgrains cultivated using flyash contains toxic elements, Dr. Patil said that National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad has proved that flyash cultivated food­grains have no toxic elements. “ In fact, they proved that that such grains have more nutritional values than normal one”, he said.
Dr. Patil however regretted that despite having these advantages of the flyash, lack of awareness among the farmers is giving room for spreading of false information.
And those farmers who are aware of the importance, do not wish to use flyash in their farmers due to transportation cost.
“I believe that if the government holds awareness programme, at the same time provide subsidy on transport, them farmers will come forward to make use of the flyash. It will also dispel misconception about the flyash”, Dr. Patil said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/flyash-helps-improve-crop-yield-says-agriculture-scientist/article6669969.ece