Reutilization of granite powder as an amendment and fertilizer for acid soils
M T Barral Silva 1, B Silva Hermo, E García-Rodeja, N Vázquez Freire
Abstract
The properties of granite powders—a granite manufacturing waste product—were analyzed to assess their potential use as amendments and fertilizers on acid soils. Two types of powders were characterized: one produced during cutting of granite with a diamond-edged disc saw, comprising only rock powder, the other produced during cutting with a multi-blade bandsaw, containing calcium hydroxide and metal filings added during the cutting procedure. The acid neutralizing capacity of the granite powders was assessed in short- (2–3 h) and medium-term (1–30 d) experiments. The powders showed a buffering capacity at around pH 8, which corresponded to the rapid dissolution of basic cations, and another buffering effect at pH < 4.5, attributable to the dissolution of Fe and Al. The acid neutralizing capacity(ANC) determined in the short-term experiments, to a final pH of 4.5, varied between 5 and 61 cmol H+kg-1 powder. The ANC to pH 4.5 obtained in the medium-term experiments was much higher than that obtained in the short-term experiments, reaching a maximum ANC value of 200 cmol H+kg-1 powder. There was no great difference in the neutralizing capacity determined at between 1 and 30 d. The most abundant elements in acid solutions obtained at the end of medium-term experiments were Mg and Ca for disc saw powders, whereas Ca and Fe (at pH < 5) were the most soluble elements in the bandsaw powders. The rapid release of these cations suggests the possible effective use of the granite powders as a source of nutrients on being added to acid soils.
