Agronomic biofortification of cereal crop plants with Fe, Zn, and Se, by the utilization of coal fly ash as plant growth media.

The implementation of agronomic biofortification of cereal crops with Fe, Zn, and Se appears to be a rapid and simple solution to the deficiency of these elements in soils and plants. These deficiencies are a reason for serious public health concerns. Low levels of Fe, Zn, and Se are important soil constraints to crop production, especially in the developing world. In our study we planted six cereal crops on soil control and different coal combustion residues, naturally rich in these micronutrients. Plants were harvested and chemically analyzed for Fe, Zn, and Se concentration using ICP. Six plant species have been tested including barley (Hordeum vulgare), Jerry oats (Avena sativa), rye (Secale cereale), wheat (Triticum aestivum), perennial ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and ReGreen (wheat x wheatgrass hybrid (Triticum aestivum x Thinopyrum intermedium). All tested plants were able to establish growth on coal ash based growth media, and accumulated significant amounts of Fe, Zn, and Se. It supported our hypothesis, that phytoremediation of coal ash piles may serve also as agronomic biofortification of plants, especially cereal crops cultivated on coal fly ash (FA).