ШЛАКИ МЕТАЛЛУРГИЧЕСКОГО ПРОИЗВОДСТВА – ПЕРСПЕКТИВНЫЙ МАТЕРИАЛ ДЛЯ РЕКУЛЬТИВАЦИИ ТЕХНОГЕННЫХ ОТХОДОВ

The article describes results of the microplot field trial to investigate potential use of metallurgical slags for fracture of capillary rim  during reclamation of toxic waste dumping areas, such as enrichment  plants  tailings,  solid  waste  dumps,  etc.,  with  minimal  possible  introduction  of  fertile  soil  layer.  Such  approach  allows  energy-effective  utilization  of  metallurgical  wastes.  Four  slags,  produced  at  EVRAZ  West  Siberian  plant  by  different  technologies  were  used:  white  nonferrous, blast-furnace, converter and electric furnace slags. These slags  were used as an inert material, underlying thin fertile soil layer in experimental microplots, where perennial plants (legume-grass mixture)  were sawn. For each slag there was check variant (no fertilizer added),  and  variants  with  potassium  humic  agents,  and  their  combination  as  mineral fertilizers. Aboveground phytomass at the end of the grow ing  season varied from 17 to128 g/m2. Converter and blast furnace slags,  which had the least phytotoxicity, appeared to be better inert materials.  Mineral  fertilizer,  introduced  itself  and  combined  with  humic  agents,  has  increased  aboveground  phytomass  2 – 4 times  as  compared  with  check  variant.  Used  separately,  humic  agent  did  not  affect  plant  production,  whereas  used  together  with  mineral  fertilizer,  it  increased  phytomass  1.6 – 1.8 times.  Thus  combined  introduction  of  mineral  fertilizer  and  humic  agents  is  recommended  to  stimulate  germination  abilit y  and  phytomass  production.  Converter  and  blast  furnace  slags  can be used as inert materials for reclamation with minimal fertile soil  layer application, whereas white non-ferrous and electric furnace slags  are not recommended for such application due to their high phytotoxicity, negatively affecting growth and development of perennial plants,  used for reclamation.