Evaluation of Growth Characteristics and Lead Uptake of Lettuce under different application levels of Bottom Ash

BACKGROUND: Most of the bottom ash(BA) from wood pellet-based thermal power plants that is not re-cycled is placed into landfill. BA has a function and struc-ture similar to biochar. Hence, BA is classified as waste, but, it is predicted that BA can be used agricultural utilization. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the effect of BA application on lettuce, growth characteristics and Pb contents were examined with BA application levels(0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 g/L), respectively, in hydroponic cultivation with Pb solution. Irrespective with BA application levels, the length, leaf number and fresh weight of lettuce in BA treatments were increased by 84.3~120, 36.2~39.0, and 215~322%, respectively, compared to the BA-0 treat-ment. The groups with BA treatments, Pb in the nutrient solution was adsorbed to the BA due to the surface area and functional groups of the BA, and the lettuce growth was maintained more smoothly than in the BA-0 treat-ment. BA application is considered to have created a fa-vorable environment for lettuce growth in hydroponic cultivation with Pb solution. CONCLUSION(S): Although direct comparing the removal effect of heavy metal between BA and biochar is not present, the BA application in contaminated area sug-gested a significant meaning on the recycling waste, and increasing potential crop productivity by immobilizing heavy metal.