Chemical properties of soils and plant as affected by use of metallurgical slag

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of usage of Ca - containing metallurgical slag from Steel factory from Smederevo, Republic of Serbia (owned by U.S. Steel), through vegetative experiments performed in semi-controlled conditions on two types of acid soils (Lessivated Cambisol and Pseudogley). The studied parameters were chemical properties of soils and chemical composition of the aboveground biomass of spring barley. The effect of metallurgical slag was compared to the effects of other lime materials (ground limestone and hydrated lime) in combination without and with standard fertilizers (organic and mineral). The research was conducted in order to define elementary parameters for wide spread usage of this secondary raw material in amelioration and fertilization of acid soils, spread on 800.000 ha of the cultivated area in Republic of Serbia. All the lime materials - neutralizers of soil acidity, along with metallurgical slag showed positive effects both on chemical properties of experimental acid soils and elemental composition of barley. The contents of toxic heavy metals comparing to non-fertilized soils were not significantly increased and were within the allowed concentrations in plant in all the treatments in spite of their higher content in metallurgical slag. Key words: Metallurgical slag, lime materials, acid soils, barley, chemical properties.