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Assessment of Long-term Effects of Basic Slag in Reclaiming Acid Sulfate Soil

Mir Ferdous Ara
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka,Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Md. Harunor Rashid Khan
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka,Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Ashrafun Nessa
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka,Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Zakia Parveen
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka,Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A long term incubation study was carried out to ascertain the effects of basic slag on acid sulfate soil. Four treatment levels of basic slag (0, 30, 40 and 50 t/ha) were selected to find out their response on pH, EC, as well as on various water soluble and exchangeable cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg and Fe) with incubation period. In most of the cases, the results showed significant effects of basic slag on pH and cations. The highest pH and EC were recorded with the largest doses of basic slag at the final stage of incubation period. In addition, this research did not find any negative impacts concerning basic slag on the supplied soil and suggested that basic slag could be used on agricultural land.

Keywords: Acid sulfate soil, Basic slag, Long term incubation

Location: Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka

Start Date: 00-00-2012

End Date: 00-00-2012

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Fertilizer

Objectives:

To assess the response of basic slag treatments on acid sulfate soil already incubated for a long time.

Methodology:

The incubation study was carried out in the laboratory of the Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka. It is pertinent to say that the incubation study was conducted up to 42 months earlier. Present work continued again from the period of 42 to 51 months to observe the further change of supplied soil due to long term incubation with basic slag and thus enabled to compare the data with the initial data. In order to conduct this research, an acidic soil (0 - 30 cm) was collected from Chakaria Upazilla under Cox’s Bazar district and this belonged to Cheringa series. After carrying out the soil sample, it was dried in air for three days by spreading them on a thin layer of paper. Visible roots and debris were removed from the soil and discarded. After air drying, a portion of larger and massive soil aggregates were crushed gently with the help of a wooden hammer. Ground samples were then screened to pass through a 2 mm stainless steel sieve. After that the sieved samples were mixed thoroughly to make a composite sample. Some physical and chemical properties of studied soil were analyzed. Soil samples were then preserved in plastic bags and labeled properly for incubation study. Basic slag was collected from Chittagong Steel Mills Corporation, Chittagong, Bangladesh and then grounded to less than 1 mm sizes. The composition of basic slag (%): SiO₂ (12.8), Ca (20.8), Mg (9.8), Fe (11.3), Mn (0.04), PO₄ (0.3) and others (44.96). It was mixed thoroughly as per treatment. In order to observe the effects of basic slag on acid sulfate soil an incubation study was conducted at room temperature in the laboratory of the Department of Soil, Water and Environment. 50 gm of soils were put into 12 plastic bottles of 10 cm height and 4 cm diameter. Soils were then treated with basic slag at the rate of 0, 30, 40 and 50 t/ha coded as BS₀, BS₁, BS₂ and BS₃, respectively. Soils were mixed properly with corresponding rate of basic slag. The soil, incubated for initial 42 months (T₀) was further incubated for 3 months (T₁), 6 months (T₂) and 9 months (T₃). Different chemical parameters of the incubated soils were analyzed in the laboratory. Both the initial and incubated water soluble and exchangeable nutrients were analyzed by prescribed methods as well. The results given were the mean of triplicate determination. After obtaining the result statistical analyses were done by ANOVA using the software Minitab 13.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 26(1&2): 1-9, 2013 (December)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

This research attempted to evaluate the long term effects of basic slag treatments on acid sulfate soil at different incubation periods. In most of the cases the results showed significant response of treatments on pH, EC as well as various water soluble and exchangeable cations throughout the incubation periods. In addition, the results did not show any negative impacts concerning basic slag and encouraged basic slag’s application to agricultural land. Nevertheless, further research is recommended regarding the presence of manganese or other metallaloids contained in basic slag and their behavior on soil in order to evaluate possible harmful effects due to basic slag application for agricultural use purposes and to avoid their possible negative environmental impacts.

Knowledge Management: Journal