Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3022
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3022
09 Oct 2024
 | 09 Oct 2024
Status: this preprint is open for discussion.

Effects of basalt, concrete fines, and steel slag on maize growth and heavy metal accumulation in an enhanced weathering experiment

Jet Rijnders, Arthur Vienne, and Sara Vicca

Abstract. Terrestrial enhanced silicate weathering is a CO2 removal technology involving the application of ground silicate materials to agricultural soils. Next to CO2 sequestration, it can improve soil fertility and crop growth, but silicate materials can also contain toxic trace elements. In a mesocosm experiment, we investigated the effect of basalt, concrete fines and steel slags on biomass, nutrients, and heavy metal concentration of Zea Mays, using a dose-response approach.

Plant biomass increased with basalt, but not with concrete fines and steel slags. Generally, plant Ca, Mg, and corn Si concentrations increased with increasing silicate application amount as a result of increased plant availability. In contrast, plant N, P, and K concentrations were hardly affected by silicate application. Besides increased leaf Pb concentrations with steel slag application, which did not exceed the maximum limit set by the WHO and FAO (0.05 mg Pb kg-1 ww), heavy metal concentrations in aerial plant tissues mostly decreased with increasing silicate application amount, presumably because of an increased soil pH, and accumulation in plant roots. Our study thus indicates mixed effects of silicate application on maize while suggesting that the risk of heavy metal contamination after a one-time application of the tested silicates is limited.

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Jet Rijnders, Arthur Vienne, and Sara Vicca

Status: open (until 07 Dec 2024)

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  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3022', Anonymous Referee #1, 09 Nov 2024 reply
Jet Rijnders, Arthur Vienne, and Sara Vicca
Jet Rijnders, Arthur Vienne, and Sara Vicca

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Short summary
A mesocosm experiment was set-up to investigate how maize responds to basalt, concrete fines and steel slags application, using a dose-response approach. Biomass increased with basalt application, but did not change with concrete fines or steel slags, except for increased tassel biomass. Mg, Ca and Si generally increased in the crops, while heavy metal concentrations remained unaffected or even decreased in the plants. Overall, crops were positively affected by application of silicate materials.