skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Pyrite and pyritic mill tailing as a source of iron in a calcareous iron-deficient soil

Journal Article · · Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)

Mill wastes from ore processing, particularly acid-forming pyrites, often pose disposal problems. This greenhouse study evaluated pyrite and a pyritic mill tailing as Fe sources on an Fe-deficient calcareous soil. Pyrite and tailing <0.1 mm in diameter were applied at rates of 45 and 135 metric ton/ha. Controls, 200 and 600 ppM Fe as Fe/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/ and 5 and 15 ppM Fe as FeEDDHA, were used as standards. The treatments were seeded with sudangrass (Sorghum vulgare sudanense) and six successive crops were harvested. Sudangrass yields increased 160 to 200% with pyrite and tailing treatments; these yields were significantly greater than the control and were comparable to yields from the other Fe sources. The 5 ppM FeEDDHA treatment, however, increased yield for only the first two crops. Plant-available soil Fe measured by DTPA extraction increased with all Fe treatments, while the levels of DTPA-extractable Zn and Mn remained the same or increased slightly. DTPA-extractable Cu doubled with the high rate of pyrite addition. The concentration of Fe in the plants remained the same or increased slightly with the Fe treatments, while concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Mn all decreased.

Research Organization:
Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins
OSTI ID:
5237392
Journal Information:
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Vol. 41:2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English