Recycling Electric Arc Furnace Slag into Fertilizer: Effects of “Waste Product” on Growth and Physiology of the Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The aim of this study was to investigate if electric arc furnace (EAF) slag generated during steel production could have an application as a soil enhancer in agriculture. For that purpose, greenhouse experiment conducted on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivated enriched with EAF (at 1% and 2% level), synthetic fertilizer (NPK), combined fertilizer, or control (untreated) soil. were exposed test soils until maturity (for 8 weeks). Following period, physico-chemical properties the soils, well nutrient status, growth, photosynthetic oxidative stress parameters bean plants determined. improved mineral status significantly increased Fe, Mg, N, P K different plant organs. and/or NPK height. slag, especially at lower levels, positively affected dry weight leaf seed. Soil supplementation level combination NPK, led significant improvement gas exchange (net rate, intercellular CO2 concentration stomatal conductance) nitrate reductase activity, indicating positive influence plants. Potential phytotoxicity not detected, evidenced by parameters. Thus, applied low shows promising potential efficient enhancer, valuable source nutrients essential plants, equal even better performance compared fertilizer.