MINI REVIEW article
Front. Sustain.
Sec. Waste Management
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/frsus.2025.1661849
This article is part of the Research TopicCutting Edge Reclamation Solutions for Transforming Biodegradable Waste into Sustainable ResourcesView all 3 articles
Exploration of the Utilization of Fly Ash in Medicinal Plant Cultivation
Provisionally accepted
- K.R. Mangalam University, Gurgaon, India
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Coal-fired thermal power plants remain the primary electricity source in much of the developing world, generating vast quantities of fly ash (FA) as a solid waste by-product. This ultrafine particulate contains heavy metals and, in some cases, radioactive elements, creating disposal challenges and raising concerns about environmental contamination, bioaccumulation, and human health risks. At the same time, fly ash is rich in plant-essential nutrients such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, and trace elements, and its application as a soil amendment can improve physical structure, nutrient availability, and biological activity. Research indicates that, when applied judiciously, fly ash can enhance plant growth, chlorophyll synthesis, phenolic compound content, and crop yield, including in medicinal species. However, the potential for toxic element transfer through the food chain necessitates rigorous risk assessment and management strategies. This study examines both the hazards and agronomic opportunities of FA, highlighting the importance of balancing environmental safety with the potential for sustainable agricultural use.
Keywords: Agriculture, Coal, Fly ash, Solid Waste, Waste Management, Soil health, crop yield
Received: 08 Jul 2025; Accepted: 14 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Singh, RAJ and Kaur. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: SEEMA RAJ, seemaraj1980@yahoo.co.in
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