the effect of hard coal ashes on the amount and quality of maize yield. part 1. heavy metals

The studies aimed at identification of various ash doses effect on the amount of yield and concentrations of Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd and Ni in maize. The studies were conducted as a pot experiment on mineral soil, to which ash doses of between 13.33 and 800.0 g∙pot – 1 were supplied in proportions corresponding to quantities between 10 and 600 t∙ha – 1. The amount of maize yield was diversified and depending on the treatment ranged between 35.59–121.64 g d.m.∙pot–1. Ash dose of 13.33 g.pot–1 significantly affected an increase in maize yield, while the dose over 26.67 g.pot–1 and equivalent to over 20 t.ha–1 applied to the soil markedly declined maize yield. Element concentrations in maize was diversified, depending on the treatment and plant part, and fluctuated from 0.32–3.48 mg Cr; 13.45–341.19 mg Zn; 0.50–5.02 mg Pb; 1.83–22.10 mg Cu; 0.02–1.71 mg Cd and 0.15–6.07 mg Ni∙kg–1d.m. It was found that with increasing ash dose Cr and Cu content increased systematically, whereas Zn, Pb, Cd and Ni concentrations in maize decreased. The content of investigated heavy metals in maize aboveground parts fulfilled the norms for good quality fodder. Under the influence of growing ash doses added to the soil a regularly declining Cr, Zn, Pb, Cd and Ni uptake by maize aboveground parts was observed.