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Abstract
A fine dust Fe is recovered as a by‐product of air pollution abatement from the steel industry. This material is sometimes pelletized to eliminate blowing out of trucks transporting to dump sites. The Fe by‐product material used in this experiment contained approximately 43% Fe, 5% Zn, and 2% Mn and thus exhibited potential as a plant food. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of this Fe by‐product as a soil Fe amendment. The influence of added plant residue on Fe availability to alleviate Fe chlorosis of grain sorghum was also determined in the same experiment. Other Fe sources (FeSO4 and FeEDDHA) were also included for comparison. Chlorosis alleviation resulted from the by‐product Fe dust, FeSO4, and FeEDDHA at 1000, 100 and 10 ppm, respectively. The pelletized Fe by‐product failed to correct Fe chlorosis. Soil incorporation of plant residue as a carrier for Fe sources produced greater dry matter yield from all Fe sources. Available soil Fe increased with added plant residue and also with rate of Fe applied, however, Fe retention by soil increased with time. Although the Fe by‐product exhibited effectiveness as a soil Fe amendment when used at a high rate under greenhouse conditions, its potential may vary from soil to soil and among plant species and cultivars.