Effect of Zeolite and Mineral Fertilizers on Some Soil Properties and Growth of Jew's Mallow in Clayey and Sandy Soils

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the effect of zeolite and mineral fertilizers on some soil properties, availability of soil nutrients and yield of Jew’s mallow (Corchorus olitorius) in clayey and sandy soils.
 Study Design: The experimental designed as split plot design with three replicates, the main plots were devoted to zeolite at the rates of 0, 4.76 and 9.52 Mg ha-1 and the sub plots were occupied by mineral fertilizers at the rates of 50% and 100% from the recommended NPK doses.
 Place and Duration of Study: During spring and summer seasons of 2018, the field experiments were conducted in Sakha Agricultural Research Station Farm (clayey soil) and private farm at Baltium district (sandy soil).
 Methodology: Jew’s mallow grains (Alexandria variety). Soil samples were collected at (0-30 cm depth) in the initial of experiment and after harvesting with the aid of soil auger at random from different parts of the experimental sites to determine the physicochemical and soil moisture characteristics of the soil. Growth characteristics (plant height and fresh mass weight) were studied.
 Results: The results showed that ECe, SAR and bulk density values were decreased, while CEC, total porosity, field capacity, permanent wilting point and available water values increased due to application of 9.52 Mg zeolites ha-1 when compared to untreated soil. The maximum stem height and total fresh yield of Jew’s mallow were recorded with the application of 9.52 Mg zeolite ha-1+100% NPK.
 Conclusion: It could be concluded that the use of zeolite in clayey and sandy soils improved the soil properties, improved the availability of soil nutrients and consequently decreased the environmental pollution. Also, the obtained results are promising for enhancing the horizontal and/or vertical expansion of agriculture in such problematic soils.

Effect of Zeolite Soil addition under Different Irrigation Intervals on Maize Yield (zea mays L.) and some Soil Properties

“…Generally, zeolite is useful for performance and yield of maize due to its high content of nutrients (Table 2). This result is in accordance with those of (DeSutter and Pierzynski, 2005;Bernardi et al 2009;Ahmed et al 2010;Azarpour et al2011;Gomah, 2015 ;Khalifa, et al 2019). Beside, Najafinezhad et al (2015) who concluded that soil addition of zeolite led to increase chlorophyll content (SPAD) and yield of sorghum and corn plant.…”

“…This behaviour could be due to that zeolite conditioner holds a high quantity of irrigation water in its pores, where zeolite can retain irrigation water in the root zone to be used by plants when required, thus zeolite helps in resisting the deficit irrigation treatments (I2 and I3) as mentioned by Al-Busaidi et al(2008). It can be said that use of zeolite is one way to improve soil moisture characters and prevent soil moisture losses due to that aluminosilicates is scaffold structure and water molecules occupation in its cavities and removable in its structure so that ion exchange reactions and dehydration do as reversible (Khalifa et al 2019). These findings are in harmony with those obtained by Pisarović et al (2003) who reported that zeolite conditioner can absorb up to 55% water of that can be used in metabolic activities of plants.…”

“…Ahmed et al (2010) showed that the use of mineral fertilizers mixed with zeolite pronouncedly increased nutrients uptake, and their use efficiency by maize plant due to high capacity of zeolite to hold the nutrients as long as possible. Khalifa, et al (2019) showed that the use of zeolite can enhance available macronutrients, CEC, total porosity, available water values, field capacity and permanent wilting point. Kulikova et al (2020) reported that zeolite is an environmentally friendly product.…”

“…Zeolite, as soil amendment, improves soil properties by reducing water leaching, thus saving soil water for agronomic crops. Zeolite may hold substantial amounts of water and nutrients and release them as required for plants, thereby improving plant growth with limited supply of irrigation water (Bernardi et al 2009;Azarpour et al 2011 andKhalifa, et al 2019). Zeolite is one of the class minerals known as "tectosilicates" that naturally occur as hydrated aluminosilicate minerals, three-dimensional tetrahedral frameworks of AlO3 and SiO4 (Gomah, 2015).…”

Evaluation of Vermicompost and Zeolite Ability to Improve Water and Nutrients Retention in A Sandy Soil تقییم قدرة الفیرمیکومبوست والزیولیت على تحسین الاحتفاظ بالمیاه والمغذیات فى أرض رملیة

“…Zeolite can be used to improve soil properties under drought, boost the effects of chemical and organic fertilizers (Najafi-Ghiri 2014). The use of zeolite in sandy soils improved soil properties, and nutrients availability and consequently decreased the soil pollution (Khalifa et al, 2019). Also, zeolites assure a permanent water reservoir, providing prolonged moisture during dry periods; they also promote a rapid re-wetting and improve the lateral spread of water into the root zone during irrigation.…”