Direct seeding offers affordable restoration for fly ash deposits

Abstract

Fly ash deposits cover significant areas throughout the world, and have extremely adverse environmental effects on ecosystems and landscapes. Natural colonization by native plant species is an important process in the recovery of areas impacted by fly ash deposit and there is increasing interest to promote these species during restoration of these sites while minimizing the colonization or introduction of undesirable, invader species. Hence, the profiling of plant seed for use in restoration of abandoned fly ash deposits is urgently needed to screen out unwanted invader plants and ensure that desired native seeds that are adapted to the environment of fly ash deposits disperse in adequate numbers by either natural or direct seeding pathways. Artificial regeneration in fly ash deposit restoration is usually done using nursery-grown seedlings. Researchers and managers have much experience and knowledge using this technique. However, the use of direct seeding on fly ash deposits to establish native plants with diverse-growth forms including grasses is less well-known as a potentially useful alternative practice in restoration projects across the nations. By direct seeding fly ash deposits may be transformed with increased biodiversity and productivity that promote improved livelihoods of people living in increasingly sustainable communities. A low input approach using direct seeding to restore fly ash deposits is presented herein. It creates a multifunctional ecosystem, while also contributing to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords

Ash dumping / Ecological restoration / Green canopy / Fly ash-tolerant plants / Environmental sustainability / UN-SDGs

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Funding

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India(Pool No. 13 (8931-A)/2017)