Metallurgical Slag Use Effects on Soils and Plant Chemical Properties

For the majority of Serbian soils, characterized by high soil acidity, application of organic and mineral fertilizer is not enough to sustain soil productivity. On these soils, along with regular fertilization, it is necessary to apply Ca-containing fertilizers – calcifiers, for improving their physico-chemical and biological properties. The application of traditional alkaline liming materials to acid soils for the amelioration of acidity is a common practice. However, the alkaline nature and the need for environmentally acceptable disposal options for metallurgical slag have prompted its use as a liming material on acid agricultural soils. In this study the effect of usage of alkaline metallurgical slag from Steel factory from Smederevo, Republic of Serbia (owned by U.S. Steel), compared to the effects of other traditional lime materials in combination without and with organic and mineral fertilizers, on chemical properties of two types of acid soils and chemical composition of spring barley was investigated. All the lime materials, along with metallurgical slag, showed positive effects both on chemical properties of experimental acid soils and elemental composition of barley.