17.1.1.3 Endogeic Earthworms
It is a category of deep feeders. They live deep into the soil and make deep,
horizontal, and well-extended burrows to feed easily. Endogeic earthworms are
mostly pinkish grey, and fever is found in green color. The most common species
of this group are Allolobophora chlorotica, Octolasion rosea, and Apporectodea
icterica.
17.1.1.4 Anecic Earthworms
They make a permanent vertical and long type of burrows for living and are usually
brown in color with the paler tail. They drag the food into their burrows and are
mostly found in grassland areas. They are the largest species of earthworm found in
England. They cast on the surface of their particular habitat and required a long-time
period for making vermicompost due to its long life cycle. They prefer cold
temperatures and do not show any wide range of tolerance to the temperature. The
examples of this category are Aporrectodea longa, Lumbricus friendi, and
Lumbricus terrestris.
17.1.2 Fly Ash
Fly ash is the powdered minute particles (0.5–300 μm) and the end product of burnt
pulverized coal material (Fig. 17.1). In 2017, it was found to produce 225 million
tones of coal fly ash in each year and pollutes the environment very badly (Dixit and
Lokesharappa 2011; Wikipedia n.d.). It is reported to contain various heavy metals
that show a toxic potential, which may create many ailments in living beings like
cancer (Singh et al. 2014a; Ćujić et al. 2016). If the fly ash is not properly managed
(open dumping), it may combine with water and form slurry. The slurry fly ash, later
on, becomes the supportive growth medium for many bacteria and mosquitoes and
contaminates the water bodies (river, lakes and ponds), and underground water
(Nawaz 2013).
17.1.2.1 Classification of Fly Ash
ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) C618 classified the fly ash into
two categories on the basis of calcium oxide (CaO) concentrations. Afterward,
IS3812-1981, fly ash has two grades. Grade I fly ash is composed of
SiO 2 + Al 2 O 3 + Fe 2 O 3 , which is greater than 70% and obtained from bituminous
coal. It is also called Class C fly ash and contains more than 10% CaO. However, the
source of grade II is lignite coal and consists of more than 50% of
17 Earthworm-Assisted Amelioration of Thermal Ash
283
It is a category of deep feeders. They live deep into the soil and make deep,
horizontal, and well-extended burrows to feed easily. Endogeic earthworms are
mostly pinkish grey, and fever is found in green color. The most common species
of this group are Allolobophora chlorotica, Octolasion rosea, and Apporectodea
icterica.
17.1.1.4 Anecic Earthworms
They make a permanent vertical and long type of burrows for living and are usually
brown in color with the paler tail. They drag the food into their burrows and are
mostly found in grassland areas. They are the largest species of earthworm found in
England. They cast on the surface of their particular habitat and required a long-time
period for making vermicompost due to its long life cycle. They prefer cold
temperatures and do not show any wide range of tolerance to the temperature. The
examples of this category are Aporrectodea longa, Lumbricus friendi, and
Lumbricus terrestris.
17.1.2 Fly Ash
Fly ash is the powdered minute particles (0.5–300 μm) and the end product of burnt
pulverized coal material (Fig. 17.1). In 2017, it was found to produce 225 million
tones of coal fly ash in each year and pollutes the environment very badly (Dixit and
Lokesharappa 2011; Wikipedia n.d.). It is reported to contain various heavy metals
that show a toxic potential, which may create many ailments in living beings like
cancer (Singh et al. 2014a; Ćujić et al. 2016). If the fly ash is not properly managed
(open dumping), it may combine with water and form slurry. The slurry fly ash, later
on, becomes the supportive growth medium for many bacteria and mosquitoes and
contaminates the water bodies (river, lakes and ponds), and underground water
(Nawaz 2013).
17.1.2.1 Classification of Fly Ash
ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) C618 classified the fly ash into
two categories on the basis of calcium oxide (CaO) concentrations. Afterward,
IS3812-1981, fly ash has two grades. Grade I fly ash is composed of
SiO 2 + Al 2 O 3 + Fe 2 O 3 , which is greater than 70% and obtained from bituminous
coal. It is also called Class C fly ash and contains more than 10% CaO. However, the
source of grade II is lignite coal and consists of more than 50% of
17 Earthworm-Assisted Amelioration of Thermal Ash
283