Metallurgy Slag As Soil Acidity Amendment and Tolerance to Drought Stress in Development of Forages.

Beneficial effects of silicon fertilization (Si) have been observed in grass plants (silicon “accumulator” plants) especially under biotic or abiotic stress. The agricultural use of metallurgy slag, that presents a high level of Si, represents a viable alternative for reducing waste impacts on environment and for Soil-Plant System - are taken advantage of the material characteristics, leading to soil acidity correction, uptake in levels of calcium and magnesium, increase in availability of phosphorus, iron and manganese, reduction of aluminum toxicity. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of Si application, from metallurgy slag, on nourishment, drought tolerance, development of plants and dry matter uptake, of six forage plants species: black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria ruziziensis, pear millet (Pennisetum americanum) and sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea). Plants were cultivated under three soil moisture conditions – plants without stress, moderate stress and intensive stress. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in the Soil Science Department, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil, in a completely randomized factorial design, with five doses of Si (0, 242, 484, 968 and 1452 kg ha^-1), three water management systems, corresponding to irrigate when soil water tension reached -0.0232, -0.0484 and -1.5 MPa and six forage plants species. Were evaluated the following parameters: analysis of the slag used as Si source; soil chemical characterization; dry matter production; macronutrients, micronutrients and Si contents in leaves and soil, besides the biochemical parameter related to activity of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). The use of metallurgy slag as an alternative source to liming can be advantageous, in view of increasing Base Saturation, toxic Al neutralization and availability of phosphorus in soil. Si supply led to increase in Ca, Mg and Si contents in soil and leaves. Drought conditions led to decreasing in dry matter production of plants; however these effects were not so strong under the presence of Si in the Soil-Plant System.