Soil amendment with fly ash and farmyard manure improves soil health growth and floral traits of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) in partially sodic soils

Published

2026-06-30

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2026.83.2.10

Keywords:

Alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, farm yard manure, fly ash, sodic land, tuberose
Dimensions Badge

Authors

  • Rakesh Chandra Nainwal CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Suchi Srivastava CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Sachi Gupta Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Ayodhya, India
  • Shashank Dixit CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Shri Krishna Tewari CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of fly ash (FA) amended with farmyard manure (FYM) on the growth, floral attributes, and soil properties of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cultivated in partially sodic soil. Fly ash, an industrial by-product generated from thermal power plants, was integrated with FYM to assess its potential as a soil ameliorant and nutrient source. The combined application of FA and FYM significantly enhanced key floral parameters, including number of spikes per plant, rachis length, number of florets per spike, and flower yield per plant during both years of study. Soil chemical and biological properties were also evaluated to determine the impact of amendments on soil health. The manure-amended FA treatment significantly reduced soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC), indicating improvement in sodicity and salt stress conditions. Furthermore, soil enzyme activities—dehydrogenase, β-glycosidase, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase—were markedly increased, reflecting enhanced microbial activity and nutrient cycling. The results demonstrate that FA enriched with FYM can effectively improve plant growth, floral yield, and soil biological activity in sodic soils. This integrated approach not only supports sustainable floricultural production but also promotes environmentally sound utilization of fly ash as a soil conditioner and reclamation agent.

How to Cite

Nainwal, R. C., Srivastava, S., Gupta, S., Dixit , S., & Tewari, S. K. (2026). Soil amendment with fly ash and farmyard manure improves soil health growth and floral traits of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) in partially sodic soils. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 83(02), 196–201. https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2026.83.2.10

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Acosta-Martı´nez, V., & Tabatabai, M. A. (2000). Enzyme activities in a limed agricultural soil. Biol. Fertil. Soils 31: 85–91.

Aitken, R. L., Campbell, D. J., & Bell, L. C. (1984). Properties of Australian flyash relevant to their agronomic utilization. Aust. J. Soil Res. 22 (4): 443–53. DOI: 10.1071/sr9840443

Alef, Ž., Nannipieri, K. P. 1995. Methods in applied soil microbiology and biochemistry. Academic Press, London, 576.

Arnold, W.S., & Malcolm, E. S. (2000). Chemical evaluation of nutrient supply from fly ash-bio solids mixtures. Soil Science Society of America Journal 64: 419–426.

Atlas, R. M. (1997). Handbook of microbiological media, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton.

Bhaduri, D., Saha, A., Desai, D., & Meena, H.N. 2016. Restoration of carbon and microbial activity in salt induced soil by application of peanut shell biochar during short term incubation study. Chemosphere 148: 86–98.

Bhalla, R., Kanwar, P., Dhiman, S. R., & Jain, R. (2006). Effect of biofertilizers and biostimulants on growth and flowering in gladiolus. J of Orn Hort 9: 248-52.

Bhalla, R., Shivakumar, M. H., & Jain, R., (2007). Effect of organic manures and biofertilizers on growth and flowering in standard carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.). J of Orn Hort 10: 229-34.

Cao, D., Li, Y. Y., Liu, B. H., Kong, F. J., & Tran, L. S. P. (2018). Adaptive mechanisms of soybean grown on salt-affected soils. Land Degradation & Development 29: 1054–1064.

Chodak, M., & Niklińska, M., (2010). Effect of Texture and Tree Species on Microbial Properties of Mine Soils. Applied Soil Ecology 46: 268-275. DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2010.08.002

Chou, S. F. J., Chou, M. I. M., Stucki, J. W., Warnock, D., Chemler, J. A., & Pepple, M. A., (2005). Plant growth in sandy soil/ compost mixture and commercial peat moss both amended with Illinois coal fly ash. In: Proc. World of Coal Ash Conf., Lexington, KE, USA, pp 1-7.

Eivazi, F., & Tabatabai, M. A. (1988). Glucosidases and galactosidases in soils. Soil Biol. Biochem. 20 (5): 601–606.

Fan, X., Pedroli, B., Liu, G., Liu, Q., Liu, H., & Shu, L., (2012). Soil salinity development in the Yellow River Delta in relation to groundwater dynamics. Land Degradation & Development 23: 175–189.

Gopinath, K. A., Saha, S., Mina, B. L., Pande, H., Kundu, S., & Gupta, H. S. (2008). Influence of organic amendments on growth, yield and quality of wheat and on soil properties during transition to organic production. Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosyst. 82 (1): 51–60.

Jalali, M., & Ranjbar, F. (2009). Effects of sodic water on soil sodicity and nutrient leaching in poultry and sheep manure amended soils. Geoderma 153 (1): 194–204.

Kabir, A. K. M., Iman, M. H., Mondal, M. M. A., & Chowdhury, S. (2011). Response of tuberose to integrated nutrient management. J Enviorn Sci & Natural Resources 4 (2): 55-59.

Karmakar, S., Mittra, B. N., & Ghosh, B. C. (2009). Influence of Industrial Solid Wastes on Soil-Plant Interaction in Rice Under Acid Lateritic Soil. World of Coal Ash (WOCA) Conference held May 4 -7, 2009 in Lexington, KY, USA.

Khan, M. J., & Qasim, M. (2008). Integrated use of boiler ash as organic fertilizer and soil conditioner with NPK in calcareous soil. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Tech. 30 (3): 281-289.

Kumar, H., Ahlawat, V. P., Yadav, B. S., & Sehrawat, S. K. (2004). Response of nitrogen and zinc application on spike length, bulb production and nutrient content in tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Double. Haryana J Hort Sci 33 (3/4): 221-223.

Ladd, J. N., & Jackson, R. B. (1982). Biochemistry of ammonification. In: F.J. Stevenson et al., editors, Nitrogen in agricultural soils. Agron. Monogr. 22. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI. 173–228

Li, J., Pu, L., Zhu, M., Zhang, J., Li, P., Dai, X., Xu, Y., & Liu, L. (2014). Evolution of soil properties following reclamation in coastal areas: A review. Geoderma, 226: 130–139.

Madejo´n, E., Burgos, P., Lo´pez, N. R., & Cabrera, F. (2001). Soil enzymatic response to addition of heavy metals with organic residues. Biol. Fertil. Soils 34: 144–150.

Marinar, S., Masciandaro, G., Ceccanti, B., & Grego, S. (2000). Influence of organic and mineral fertilizer on soil biological and physical properties. Biores. Technol. 72(1): 9–17.

Moeskops, B., Buchan, D., Sleutel, S., Herawaty, L., Husen, E., Saraswati, R., Setyorini, D., & De, Neve, S. (2010). Soil microbial communities and activities under intensive organic and conventional vegetable farming in West Java, Indonesia. Applied Soil Ecology 45 (2): 112-120.

Montiel Rozas, M. M., Panettieri, M., Madejón, P., & Madejón, E. (2016). Carbon sequestration in restored soils by applying organic amendments. Land Degradation & Development 27: 620–629. https://doi. org/10.1002/ldr.2466

Natywa, M., & Selwet, M. (2011). Respiratory and dehydrogenase activities in the soils under maize growth in the conditions of irrigated and non irrigated fields. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum - Agricultura, 10 (3): 93-100.

Nayak, A. K., Mishra, V. K., Sharma, D. K., Jha, S. K., Singh, C. S., Shahabuddin, M., & Shahid, M. (2013). Efficiency of phosphogypsum and mined gypsum in reclamation and productivity of rice–wheat cropping system in sodic soil. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 44: 909–921.

Oo, A. N., Iwai, C. B., & Saenjan, P. (2015). Soil properties and maize growth in saline and non saline soils using cassava industrial waste compost and vermicompost with or without earthworms. Land Degradation & Development. 26: 300–310.

Ram, L. C., Masto, R. E., Singh, S., Tripathi, R.C., Jha, S. K., Srivastava, N. K., Sinha, A. K., Selvi, V. A., & Sinha, A. (2011). An appraisal of coal fly ash soil amendment technology (FASAT) of Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR). World Aca .of Sci., Engi. Tech. 76: 703-714.

Reed, E. Y., Chadwick, D. R., Hill, P. W., & Jones, D. L. (2017). Critical comparison of the impact of biochar and wood ash on soil organic matter cycling and grassland productivity. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 110: 134–142.

Rethman, N. F. G., Reynolds, K. A., & Kruger, R. A. (1999). Crop responses to SLASH (Mixture of sewage sludge, Lime and Fly Ash) as influenced by soil texture, acidity and fertility. In: Proc. Intl. Ash Utilization Symp., Center for applied research, University of Kentucky, USA, 1-11.

Romero, E., Fernandez-Bayo, J., Diaz, J., & Nogales, R. (2010). Enzyme activities and diuron persistence in soil amended with vermicompost derived from spent grape marc and treated with urea. Applied Soil Ecology 44 (3): 198-204.

Shafi, M., Shah, A. S., Bakht, J., Shah, M. S., Mohammad, W., Sharif, M., & Khan, A. M. (2012). Enhancing soil fertility and wheat productivity through integrated nitrogen management. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 43 (11): 1499–1511.

Singh, A. K., Singh Deepti, & Jauhari, S. (2006). Response of manures and biofertilizers on growth and flowering in rose. J of Orn Hort. 9(4): 278-281.

Srivastava, P. K., Gupta, M., Shikha, N. S., & Tewari, S. K. (2016). Amelioration of sodic soil for wheat cultivation using bioaugmented organic soil amendment. Land Degradation & Development 27: 1245–1254.

Sunitha, H. M., Hunje Ravi, Vyakaranahal, B. S., & Ablad, H. B. (2007). Effect of plant spacing and integrated nutrient management on yield and quality of seed and vegetative growth parameters in African marigold (Tagetes erecta Linn.). J of Orn Hort. 10(4): 245-249.

Tabatabai, M. A. (1994a). Soil enzymes. In: Weaver RW, Angle JS, Bottomley PS (eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 2. Microbiological and biochemical properties. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, 775–833.

Tabatabai, M. A. (1994b). Soil enzymes. In: Mickelson SH (ed) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2. Microbiological and biochemical properties. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, 775–833.

Tilman, D., Balzer, C., Hill, J., & Befort, B. L. (2011). Global food demand and the sustainable intensification of agriculture. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 108 (50): 20260–20264.

Tsadilas Christos, Samaras Vasilios, Evangelou, E., & Shaheen Sabry, M. (2014). Influence of fly ash and sewage sludge application on wheat biomass production, nutrients availability, and soil properties. Int J Coal Sci Technol. 1(2): 221–226.

Veeresh, H., Tripathy, S., Chaudhuri, D., Ghosh, B. C., Hart, B. R., & Powell, M. A. (2003). Change in physical and chemical properties of three soil types in India as a result of amendment with fly ash and sewage sludge. Environmental Geology 43 (5): 513–520.

Veneklaas, E. J., Lambers, H., Bragg, J., Finnegan, P. M., Lovelock, C. E., Plaxton, W. C., Price, C. A., Scheible, W. R., Shane, M. W., White, P. J., & Raven, J. A. (2012). Opportunities for improving phosphorus use efficiency in crop plants. New Phytologist, 195 (2): 306–320.

Yadav, R. L., Suman, A., Prasad, S. R., & Prakash, O. (2009b). Effect of Glucon acetobacter diazotrophicus and Trichoderma viride on soil health, yield and N-economy of sugarcane cultivation under subtropical climatic conditions of India. European Journal of Agronomy 30: 296–303.

Yaduvanshi, N. P. S., Swarup, A. (2005). Effect of continuous use of sodic irrigation water with and without gypsum, farmyard manure, pressmud and fertilizer on soil properties and yields of rice and wheat in a long term experiment. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 73 (2): 111–118.

Yeledhalli, N. A., Prakash, S. S., Ravi, M. V., & Narayana Rao, K. (2008). Long-term effect of fly ash on crop yield and soil properties. Kar J of Agric Sci. 21 (4): 507-512.

Yuan, B., & Yue, D. (2012). Soil microbial and enzymatic activities across a chronosequence of Chinese pine plantation development on the loess plateau of China. Pedosphere 22 (1): 1-12.

Zhao, B., Chen, J., Zhang, J., & Qin, S. (2010). Soil microbial biomass and activity response to repeated drying-rewetting cycles along a soil fertility gradient modified by long-term fertilization management practices. Geoderma, 160: 218-224.

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.