Potential use of pyrite as an amendment for calcareous soil

The results of an ongoing study of soil improvement using pyrite-rich waste from the Neves-Corvo copper mine as an amendment, are reported for an area in southern Portugal. The application of pyrite to the calcareous soils re sulted in the increased availability of certain trace elements, an increase in nutritive parameters, and an increase in dry matter production. This ap plication does not appear to lead to pollution problems in surface waters o r toxicological problems in grazing animals. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.