Among the main environmental problems due to the use of schist is a massive production of highly alkaline schist processing waste. This residue, when deposited in great amounts liberates toxic elements in the atmosphere, polluting the soil, the surface water and the atmospheric air. The effect of the use of schist in agriculture was evaluated on the soil chemical attributes and tomato crop nutrition. Two experiments were performed on Typic Eutrustults under greenhouse conditions. Schist rates of 0; 3; 6; 9 and 12 t ha-1 were applied and incorporated in the soil. A randomized block design with four replications was used. Schist use promoted a significant sulfur and silicon content increase in the soil as well as in the tomato leaves; no soil pH alteration was verified neither the exchangeable cations capacity, but an increase in the phosphorous availability was observed. No environmental damage was verified, such as chemical contamination by heavy metals, nor decrease of the tomato yield. The use of schist as a fertilizer in the evaluated doses is viable in agriculture.
Lycopersicon esculentum; heavy metals; silicon
