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A Comparison of Some Effects of Blast Furnace Slag and of Limestone on an Acid Soil 1
Author(s) -
Crane F. H.
Publication year - 1930
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1930.00021962002200110008x
Subject(s) - ground granulated blast furnace slag , agricultural experiment station , citation , slag (welding) , soil fertility , mathematics , library science , agriculture , engineering , history , archaeology , environmental science , computer science , soil water , waste management , soil science , mechanical engineering , fly ash
A number of investigators, including Barnette Cowles (5), HartweI1 and Pember (7), MacIntire and Willis Scheidt (9), and Schollenberger (lO), have reported work with certain silicates, mainly di-calcium silicate, as substitutes for lime in correcting soil acidity or soil toxicity arising therefrom. Their work indicates that di-caleium silicate compares very favorably with other liming m~terials, especially if applied in chemically equivalent amounts (usually calculated from the calcium and magnesium content). On some soils the di-calcium silicate appears to be more effective than equivalent amounts of limestone. In 1915, Ames (i) reported trials with blast furnace slag and precipitated CaCO~. The slag was not so effective as tlae CaCO~. More recently, extensive tests with blast furnace slag have been carried on at the Pennsylvania, (12, 13) and Ohio (14) agricultttral experiment stations. The tests at Pennsylvania indicate that on the basis of calcium and magnesium applied, 2o-mesh blast furnace slag is somewhat better than 2o-mesh limestone, although less effective when compared on the ton basis. The slag apparently had an effect in increasing yields beyond that which its content of calcium and magnesium would lead one to suspect. Granulated slag was considerably less effective than 2o-mesh slag or limestone. The Ohio trials also showed the granulated slag to be much less effective than ground limestone. The results reported in this paper are from pot cultures carried on in 1925-25. The soil used is classified by the Illinois Soil Survey as Gray Silt Loam On Orange Mottled Tight Clay. One-gallon pots were filled with 5 kilograms of air-dry soil with which the treatment materials ha=l previously been mixed. The rates of application are based on 2 million pounds of water-free soil. The limestone had a neutralizing value of 94.4% CaCO.~ equivalent (official A.O.A.C. method). The official A.O.A.C. method involves solution of the material in an excess of standard acid, the excess of acid then being titrated with standard alkali, using phenolphthalein as the indicator. The limestone contained 36.6% of calcium and