Work

Revegetation of Thermal Power Plant Ash Dumps or Sustainable Urban Development

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The goal of this study is to safely reduce dust emissions from ash dumps and create green landscapes at waste storage sites. The most effective way to achieve this is through revegetation, which allows ash dumps to be transformed into green landscapes. Unlike similar studies, this paper examines the revegetation of a sand-covered ash dump under the extreme conditions of a sharply continental climate. The following perennial plant species were selected: Festuca pratensis, Bromus inermis, and Medicago polymorpha. Laboratory studies revealed that Festuca pratensis was the most adapted to the laboratory conditions in an indoor environment, while Medicago polymorpha showed poor development. The maximum height reached by Festuca pratensis was 0.27 m, Bromus inermis reached 0.23 m, and Medicago polymorpha reached 0.10 m. In the field experiments, over three months of vegetation, maximum plant heights were as follows: Festuca pratensis—0.09 m, Bromus inermis—0.11 m, and Medicago polymorpha—0.30 m. Medicago polymorpha exhibited a higher rate of development compared to the grasses. Thus, revegetating ash dumps from thermal power plants presents a promising solution for creating green spaces, aligning with the principles of sustainable urban development.

Source: Urban Science

DOI: 10.3390/urbansci9060210