Characterization of organic residues from saltworks and their potential use as fertilizer

Deactivation of saltworks in Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, has been creating great amounts of organic residues originated from marine algae accumulation. Studies were carried out at the Soil Department of UFRRJ in 1996 to evaluate the potential for using such residues as organic fertilizers. Samples of the residue presented high contents of Ca, Mg, K, Na, S, and elevated values of bulk and real densities, water retention, pH and electrical conductivity; 89% of Na content was found in soluble forms, allowing its removal through leaching. An assay was conducted to desalinize the residues when applied to the local sandy soil, in a 4 x 5 factorial with 3 replicates: 4 residue:soil mixtures (0:1, 1:100, 1:50 and 1:10 w:w) combined with 5 gypsum levels (0, 1/2, 1, 2 and 4 times the gypsum requirement); water was applied 7 times. The great viscosity of 1:10 mixture almost impeded percolation. The two first washes removed 66, 86 and 98% of the total Ca, Mg and Na percolated, respectively. Residue application increased C, N, P, Ca, Mg, and water contents of mixtures at the end of the assay, as compared to pure soil. Gypsum had no effect on Na leaching and on final exchangeable Na. Leaching removed about 90% of Na and reduced salinity, but the mixtures maintained sodicity at the end of the assay. The viability of using organic residue from saltworks is conditioned to the reclamation costs, as compared to acquisition of other organic manure.

gypsum; marine algae; organic manure; salinity; sodium