The impact of coal ash on soil respiration and the growth indices of white pea inoculated with Mesorhizobium and mycorrhiza fungi

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Professor, Dept. of Soil Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

2 M.Sc. Graduate of Soil Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: In recent years, the use of industrial residues such as coal ash in agriculture as a soil amendment and nutrient source has gained attention. However, determining the optimal application rates of these materials and their effects on soil properties, plant growth, and symbiosis with microorganisms requires further investigation. This study evaluated the effects of bituminous coal ash application combined with tripartite symbiosis of microorganisms on growth parameters and performance of Iranian pea plants.
Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse as a factorial pot trial in a completely randomized design with three replications in sterile condition. The experimental factors included four levels of coal ash (0, 2.5, 5, and 10% of soil weight), three treatments of mycorrhizal fungi inoculation (no inoculation, inoculation with Funneliformis mosseae, and inoculation with Rhizophagus irregularis), and two treatments of Mesorhizobium ciceri inoculation (no inoculation and inoculation with Mesorhizobium). Plants were grown under daily irrigation until the flowering stage. Parameters such as basal and induced soil respiration, leaf chlorophyll content, and growth indicators (plant height, shoot and root dry weight, and the number of rhizobial nodules) were measured.
Results: Soil treated with 2.5% coal ash significantly improved plant height, dry weight, and the number of root nodules compared to the control. However, increasing the coal ash application to 5% and 10% resulted in reduced growth parameters, indicating negative effects of higher coal ash concentrations on soil and plant properties. The highest chlorophyll content in leaves was observed at 5% coal ash application, possibly due to the availability of nutrients in the ash. Inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi and Mesorhizobium either separately or simultaneously significantly enhanced growth parameters, total chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll a and b levels in leaves. The highest chlorophyll content was recorded in plants inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae, demonstrating its superior efficiency compared to Rhizophagus irregularis. At 10% coal ash application, the beneficial effects of biofertilizers on plants were not observed, likely due to chemical and/or physical soil contamination.
Conclusion: This study revealed that applying bituminous coal ash at a low rate (2.5%) can significantly improve Iranian pea growth parameters. However, higher rates (5% and 10%) showed detrimental effects on plant growth and microbial symbiosis. Furthermore, inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi and Mesorhizobium substantially increased plant growth and chlorophyll content, although these beneficial effects diminished at higher coal ash concentrations. As this study was conducted in greenhouse and sterile condions,, further field trials, particularly under continuous coal ash application, are recommended to validate the findings and provide practical recommendations for farmers.

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References

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Journal of Soil Management and Sustainable Production
Volume 16, Issue 2
June 2026
Pages 57-77

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