Articles | Volume 12, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-279-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-279-2026
Original research article
 | 
26 Mar 2026
Original research article |  | 26 Mar 2026

Leaching behavior of steelmaking slag fertilizer under repeated wetting and drying conditions simulating upland soil

Takayuki Iwama, Shohei Koizumi, Megumi Obara, and Shigeru Ueda

Cited articles

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Amoakwah, E., Shim, J., Kim, S., Lee, Y., Kwon, S., Sangho, J., and Park, S.: Impact of silicate and lime application on soil fertility and temporal changes in soil properties and carbon stocks in a temperate ecosystem, Geoderma, 433, 116431, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.020, 2023. 
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Short summary
Acidic soils can lock up nutrients and release harmful metals, reducing crop growth. In a laboratory soil-column experiment, we tested steelmaking slag, an alkaline by-product, under repeated wetting and drying. The slag-mixed layer showed lasting improvement in acidity for twenty-four weeks, while nearby layers changed little. Slag released calcium slowly and formed surface coatings, suggesting durable, place-specific treatment and guidance for rate, depth, and reapplication.
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