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The short-term effects of wood-ash amendment on forest soils

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Abstract

In the heavily forested regions of the northeastern U.S. the potential for producing electricity from wood-fired boilers is also creating a growing supply of wood-ash requiring disposal. Landfill space is expensive and limited, which has resulted in an interest in spreading wood-ash on forest sites. This greenhouse study was designed to provide information on soil and seedling response to wood-ash applications. Red maple (Acer rubrum) seedlings were grown in either O or B horizon forest soil material and amended with six levels of ash (0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 Mg ha−1) and two levels of N fertilizer (0 and 224 kg ha−1). Ash amendments increased pH and exchangeable base cations, and decreased extractable Al and Fe concentrations, in both soil materials. Ash treatments increased seedling foliar K and Na concentrations in O horizon soils, but had little effect on growth. No significant effects on seedling properties from ash in B horizon soils were found. Fertilizer N treatments did not improve seedling growth in either soil material. Soil and seedling response to N were notably different for the different soils used. Based on this short-term study it appears that (a) land applications of wood-ash at the rates used may be a viable approach to recycling this solid waste, and (b) long-term studies are required to evaluate this practice under field conditions.

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  1. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Maine, 04469, Orono, ME, USA

    Yvonne L. Unger & Ivan J. Fernandez

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  1. Yvonne L. Unger
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  2. Ivan J. Fernandez
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Unger, Y.L., Fernandez, I.J. The short-term effects of wood-ash amendment on forest soils. Water Air Soil Pollut 49, 299–314 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00507070

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00507070

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