Increasing yield of paddy rice on peat soil using steel slag

Abstract

Peat soil is one marginal soil having the potential for paddy rice cultivation. Peat soil has a low content of total Si and available copper and zinc. Steel slag is the typical source of Si elements. Two experiments were carried out to determine steel slag supplementation effects on the growth and development of paddy rice on peat soil. Experiment 1 was a greenhouse pot experiment to evaluate three steel slag dosages (i.e., 0.0, 2.5, and 5.0 %). Experiment 2 was a field experiment to validate the effects of five steel slag dosages (i.e., 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10-tons ha−1). In experiment 1, applying steel slag at 2.5 and 5.0 % dosages significantly increased paddy rice development. In experiment 2, paddy rice development was significantly increased with steel slag. Grain yield increased from 65 to 96 % with steel slag 2.5 to 10 tons ha−1. The response of paddy rice on peat soil to steel slag in experiments 1 and 2 was associated with increasing soil pH and availability of Si, Mg, and Ca.