EFFECTS OF BROWN COAL ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND CORN CROP YIELD

Authors:

L.A. Zhuravleva
Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow, 123434, Russian Federation e-mail: dfz@yandex.ru
Authors Information
Zhuravleva L.A. – Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Associate Professor, Professor, Department of Agricultural Construction, Institute of Amelioration, Water Management and Construction named after A.N. Kostyakov, Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow, 123434, Russian Federation, e-mail: dfz@yandex.ru

UDC: 631.67 c L.A. Zhuravleva, 2026 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18796/0041-5790-2026-6-83-88

Abstract

Brown coal is used as an efficient ameliorant to improve soil properties and increase crop yields. This study aims to determine the effects of coal introduction on soil properties and crop yields, using corn as a case study. The ameliorant, i.e. brown coal mixed with electroplating plant waste, was introduced with irrigation water using a wide-span sprinkler. The article presents a method for adjusting the irrigation rates with account of the water consumption. Experimental studies were performed using four coal application rates. The coal was introduced once during the vegetation period at the rates of 0, 15, 30 and 45 t/ha. The paper discusses the results of studying changes in the soil moisture content following coal introduction. Introduction of coal increased the amount of available nitrogen by 10-46%, phosphorus by 5-32%, potassium by 2-20%, and humus by 10-24%. The crop yields in 2023 when the ameliorant was introduced increased by 31-63%, in 2024 by 38-60%, and in 2025 by 33-72% compared with the reference group.

Keywords: Brown coal, ameliorant, irrigation, sprinkler, irrigation rate, crop yield, water availability.

References

Li H., Wu W., Min X., Zhan W., Fang T., Dong X., Shi Y. Immobilization and assessment of heavy metals in chicken manure compost amended with rice straw-derived biochar. Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability. 2021;1(33):1-10.
Li Z., Delvaux B. Phytolith?rich biochar: A potential Si fertilizer in desilicated soils. Gcb Bioenergy. 2019;11(11):1264-1282.
Влияние бурого угля и глауконита на плодородие почвы и урожайность культур / Р.Р. Газизов, И.М. Суханова, Е.А. Прищепенко и др. // Плодородие. 2020. № 6. С. 34-36. Gazizov R.R., Sukhanova I.M., Prishchepenko E.A. at al. Influence of brown coal and glauconite application on soil fertility and crop yield. Plodorodie. 2020;(6):34-36. (In Russ.).
Влияние внесения биоугля на урожайность сельскохозяйственных культур. Агрохимия и почвоведение / М.А. Бовсун, О.В. Нестерова, В.А. Семаль и др. // Вестник Томского государственного университета. Биология. 2023. № 61. С. 6-26. Bovsun М.А., Nesterova О.V., Semal V.А., Sakara N.A. et al. The effect of applying biochar on crop yields. Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Biologiya. 2023;(61):6-26. (In Russ.).
Сравнительная оценка перспектив использования гуминовых веществ, полученных из бурого угля, в целях рекультивации техногенных ландшафтов / Ф.С. Фиша, Е.В. Будина, С.И. Жеребцов и др. // Почвы и окружающая среда. 2021. Т. 4. № 1. С. 1-7. Fisha P.C., Budina E.V., Zherebtsov S.I. et al. Comparative assessment of the use of humic substances derived from brown coals for technogenic landscapes reclamation. Pochvy i okruzhayushchaya sreda. 2021;4(1):1-7. (In Russ.).
Kabir E., Kim K-H., Kwon E. Front. Biochar as a tool for the improvement of soil and environment. Environ. Sci., 18 December 2023.
Yang W., Feng G., Jia Y., Yang Y. Impact of single biochar application on maize growth and water-fertilizer productivity under different irrigation regimes. Front. Plant Sci., 10 November 2022.
Abbas A., Naveed M., Azeem M., Yaseen M., Ullah R., Alamri S., et al. Efficiency of wheat straw biochar in combination with compost and biogas slurry for enhancing nutritional status and productivity of soil and plant. Plants. 2020;(9):15-16.
Гуминовые вещества бурых углей и перспективы их применения в рекультивации техногенно нарушенных земель / С.И. Жеребцов, З.Р. Исмагилов, О.А. Неверова и др. / Разработка комплекса технологий рекультивации техногенно нарушенных земель: материалы Всероссийской научной конференции. Кемерово, 10-12 ноября, 2011 г. Кемерово, 2011. С. 20-23.
Zhuravleva L. Improving biochemical processes in soils by applying chemicals with irrigation. BIO Web of Conferences. 2025. Т. 194. С. 01071.
Сафронов В.П., Матыченков В.В., Бочарникова Е.А., Носенко С.И. Производство почвенных мелиорантов на основе органических отходов промышленности в процессе их утилизации в отвалах угольных карьеров // Известия ТулГУ. Науки о Земле. 2018. Вып. 4. С. 22-30. Safronov V.P., Matichenkov V.V., Bocharnikova E.A., Nosenko S.I. Production of soil meliorents based on organic waste industry in the process of their utilization in the dumps of coal open pits. Izvestiya Tul'skogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Nauki o Zemle. 2018;(4): 22-30. (In Russ.).
Zhuravleva L. The prospects of using precision irrigation. BIO Web of Conferences. 2025. Т. 173. С. 01012.
Zhuravleva L. The technology of fertilizing irrigation with differentiated norms using wide-reach sprinkler machines. E3S Web of Conferences. Ural Environmental Science Forum “Sustainable Development of Industrial Region” (UESF-2024). EDP Sciences, 2024, С. 01038. Acknowledgements The research was funded by the Russian Science Foundation (project No. 25-26-00132).

For citation

Zhuravleva L.A. Effects of brown coal on soil properties and corn crop yield. Ugol’. 2026;(6):83-88. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.18796/0041-5790-2026-6-83-88.

Paper Info
Received: May 4, 2026
Reviewed: May 18, 2026
Accepted: May 30, 2026