Application of Biomass Ash on Grasslands

An increase in the reliance on biomass energy production results in an increased ash production, as a residue subsequent to the biomass combustion. As an alternative to the disposal of ash in landfills, the use of ash in agriculture is becoming increasingly important. The value of ash as a calcifying material, fertilizer, or soil improvement material, as well as a possibility of application and the amount of ash applied in forage production on an arable land or grassland, depend on the content of macro- and micronutrients, the potential neutralization value, and on the content of heavy metals and other potential pollutants. Biomass ash, which contains the significant amounts of nutrients (Ca, K, Mg, P, Fe), can be applied as a calcifying material affecting the soil’s physical and chemical properties, soil microbiological activity, and soil decomposition and ultimately increases crop productivity. The application of ash on grasslands and in the forage production in the amount 6-22 t ha-1 results in an increased productivity of forage species, the proportion of legumes in the sward, and the nutritional value of forage.