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Use of Indigenous Waste Materials for Better Crop Yield: Possibility of Using Steel Mill Waste (basic Slag) as Fertilizer

Farrukh Ahmed
Departmtnt of Soil Science, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dr. S. M. Imamul Huq
Departmtnt of Soil Science, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

S. Mohammad Ullah
Departmtnt of Soil Science, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A pot experiment with rice plant was conducted on three acid soils to evaluate the possibility of using basic open hearth slag as fertilizer. Upto five tons per hectare of slag applied to soil raised the pH of the soils to a favourable range (6.0-6.5). Increases in the dry matter yield (upto 74 % ), tiller number (upto 62% ) and plant height (11%) were observed due to the addition of basic slag. Higher P, Ca and Mg uptake values with increasing slag dose were also recorded.

Keywords: Potassium, Soil, Organic Matter, Potassium fertilizer, K-fixation.

Location: Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), Sreemangal; Sylhet, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Beyazid Bostami, Chittagong and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), Kalmcshwar, Tongi, Dhaka.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Soil fertility

Objectives:

To ascertain the effects of the Chittagong Steel Mills Ltd.'s slag on rice plants under flooded condition.

Methodology:

Three soil samples with low pH values were collected from the farm of Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), Sreemangal; Sylhet, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Beyazid Bostami, Chittagong and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), Kalmcshwar, Tongi, Dhaka. Composite soil samples were collected to represent 0-20 cm depth. After air drying, the samples were ground and passed through 5 mm sieve. 3 kg soil per pot was taken in earthen pots lined with polyethene bags. There were four treatments with three replications of each. The ground (60 mesh) slag containing 0.29% Ca, 0.14% Mg and 2.0 ppm P when extracted with 2% citric acid and 32.96% Ca, 5.40% Mg and 2.16% P when digested with con HCI was Applied at the rate of 0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 ton/ha. 20 days' old rice (variety: pa y jam) seedlings were transplanted on July 8, 1978. During the growth period, water was given to the pots to keep the soil under submerged condition. The plants were subjected to natural light under open sky. Harvest was done after 90 days of growth. The plant height, tiller number and soil pH values were recorded. Plants were dried at 70°C for four hours and the dry matter yield was recorded. Mechanical analysis was done by hydrometer method; pH by glass electrode pH meter using soil-water ratio of 1 :2; organic carbon wet oxidation method; total nitrogen by Kjeldll"s method as described b:-. Chapman & Pratt (1961). KCL extractable nitrogen, 0.002 N H₂S0₄ extractable phosphorus, lN NH 40AC extracta ble potassium, Calcium and Magnesium were determined by following the methods as outlined. Plant samples were digested with HN0₃ -HCl0₄-H₂S0₄ mixture (2:1:0.05). Phosphorus was determined by vanadomolyb-date yellow colour method as outlined and Ca and Mg were determined by EDTA titration method.

Source of Information: Asiatic Soc. Bangladesh (Sc.) Vols. 6 & 7, (1980 & '81)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Agronomic data which include the dry matter yield, number of tillers per hill and plant height all at harvest have been presented. The response was, however, the highest for BTRI farm soil (73.67% at 2.5 ton /ha slag rate) and the lowest (14.62 at 5 ton /ha rate) for BAEC farm soil. As regards the basic slag rate, the increase was the highest at 2.5 ton /ha rate both for BTRI farm soil (73.67%) and BCSIR farm soil (71.59%) whereas for BAEC farm soil five ton /ha rate gave the highest yield increase (27.61 %). Application of basic slag to soils also slightly increased tiller number and height of plant in general. The situations were better for BTRl farm and BCSIR farm soils. The increases in the three parameters for the soils due to increasing basic slag rate were, however, statistically insignificant. Concentrations of P, Ca & Mg in the dry matter, however, increased due to the addition of basic slag in all the three soils. These results indicate the promise of basic slag to be tested in high rainfall areas of the country particularly to the forest soils of tea, rubber, medical herbs, different fruit gardens and other commercially important forest plantations for better crop yield.

Knowledge Management: Journal