Plant availability of an iron waste product utilized as an agricultural fertilizer on calcareous soil

Abstract

An Fe-dust waste which accumulates as a by-product from the steel industry poses a disposal problem. Since the waste material contains approximately 43% Fe, 5% Zn, and 2% Mn, it shows potential for recycling as an agricultural plant nutrient. The Fe waste was evaluated in laboratory experiments to explore solubility, availability and soil reaction relationships.

Chemistry and mineralogy of Fe‐containing oxides and layer silicates in relation to plant available iron

“…The initial dissolution rate may be very rapid; however, with the formation of surface oxide coatings, the rate of dissolution may decrease rapidly. Anderson and Parkpian (1984) reported from a greenhouse study that the application of a steel-industry waste material which consisted predominantly of magnetite did not alleviate Fe chlorosis of sorghum grown in a calcareous soil, though the fine particle-size was slightly more effective than a pelletized material. Acidification of the material with sulfuric acid resulted in an increased dry-matter yield of sorghum.…”

Iron by‐product as influenced by selective dissolution techniques, acidification, and soil reaction

“…The DTPA soluble Fe as influenced by acidulation ratios was similar and only slightly greater than the water soluble Fe. The actual data is given in another paper (Anderson and Parkpian 1984). Soluble Fe from dust was significantly higher than from pellet regardless of the acidulation ratios used.…”

Effect of soil applied iron by‐product on micronutrient concentrations in sorghum cultivars

“…The different yield response between the two cultivars may be attributed to the efficient being more adaptive to an Fe deficient calcareous soil than the inefficient cultivar. The actual yield data is presented in an associated paper (Anderson and Parkpian, 1984). Acidification effectively prevented Fe chlorosis and improved yield.…”