Abstract
Vegetation trials were established on a levelled tip of blast furnace slag in the Furness area of Cumbria. The major factors limiting growth were high pH and serious deficiencies of the macronutrients, nitrogen and phosphate. Exposure to natural leaching caused a reduction in surface pH and increased the growth potential of the waste. High rates of initial and maintenance phosphate applications were required to support growth, the high pH causing phosphate immobilisation during the early stages of sward development. Repeat applications of nitrogen were essential because of leaching problems and it was shown that slow-release nitrogen fertiliser as sulphur-coated urea was more efficient than uncoated urea. Species trials demonstrated that Festuca rubra was relatively tolerant of the waste.
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