This research was carried out in greenhouse conditions with the objective to evaluate the effects of slag and lime plus nitrogen on the soil silicon availability and growth and silicon absorption and growth of marandu palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha), with two cuts. The treatments were two corrective material types (slag and lime), three corrective material rates (0.81; 1.61 and 3.22 g dm-3 of ECaCO3), three nitrogen rates (75, 150 and 300 mg dm-3) plus a control treatment, with four replications. The evaluated parameters were: available soil silicon, dry matter production and shoot silicon and nitrogen. Slag rates increased soil and plant silicon contents, but decreased plant nitrogen contents. Plant silicon uptake was not affected by lime in the first cutting, but it was reduced in the second cutting. Nitrogen fertilization plus slag increased dry matter yield and plant silicon contents.
Brachiaria brizantha; calcium silicate; metallurgy residue
