A fuel feed system (110) for use in a gasification system (50) including a gasifier (134) is provided. The fuel feed system (110) includes a feed preparation section (118) configured to grind a particulate fuel to a predetermined size and to adjust a moisture content within the particulate fuel, a pressurization and conveyance section (124) coupled in flow communication with the feed preparation section, the pressurization and conveyance section including at least one solids pump (340) configured to receive a flow of the particulate fuel at a first pressure and discharge the particulate fuel at a second pressure, a conduit (122) configured to channel the pressurized particulate fuel to the gasifier, and a slag additive section (152) configured to feed a slag mixture into the gasifier and substantially control a total water content of a quantity of feeds into the gasifier, and further control melting and flow characteristics of a quantity of particulate fuel ash within the gasification system.