Articles
USE OF UREA-DERIVED AMMONIUM LOADED ZEOLITES IN ZEOPONIC CULTIVATION
Article number
927_8
Pages
81 – 88
Language
English
Abstract
Zeolites are silicates with high cation exchange capacity and can be loaded with macro and microelements for use as zeoponic substrates.
The aim of this work is to determine the effects of urea-derived NH4+ loaded zeolites on tomato yield and on nitrogen leaching in the percolate.
Two g L-1 of N were distributed in the zeolites using different procedures: Z1 sprinkling 100 cc L-1 of a solution containing 43.5 g L-1 of urea; Z2 sprinkling 100 cc L-1 of a solution containing 348 g L-1 urea, followed by immersion in water allowing a later three months drying period until complete water evaporation.
The product is then mixed with unloaded zeolite in the ratio 1:7; and Z3 sprinkling 100 cc L-1 of a solution containing 80 g L-1 ENTEC, slow release urea.
The control was grown on unloaded zeolite and fertigated with a complete nutrient solution.
The experiment was conducted for growing greenhouse tomatoes using a randomized block design replicated thrice.
The substrate was packed into 20-L polyethylene bags each used to cultivate two plants.
The seedlings were transplanted on November 14, 2008, and harvest began on April 28, 2009 and ended on June 23, 2009. The results did not show any significant differences between marketable tomato yield in tests Z1 – Z2 compared to the control, 6-6.1 against 6.8 kg m-2, respectively, while marketable yield in test Z3 was just 3 kg m-2 owing to the large percentage of blossom end rot.
Nitrogen leaching was lowest in test Z2, N = 6.93 g bag-1, which did not differ significantly from the control, N = 7.10 g bag-1, while the values for Z1 and Z3 were 24.6 and 18.19 g bag-1, respectively.
The aim of this work is to determine the effects of urea-derived NH4+ loaded zeolites on tomato yield and on nitrogen leaching in the percolate.
Two g L-1 of N were distributed in the zeolites using different procedures: Z1 sprinkling 100 cc L-1 of a solution containing 43.5 g L-1 of urea; Z2 sprinkling 100 cc L-1 of a solution containing 348 g L-1 urea, followed by immersion in water allowing a later three months drying period until complete water evaporation.
The product is then mixed with unloaded zeolite in the ratio 1:7; and Z3 sprinkling 100 cc L-1 of a solution containing 80 g L-1 ENTEC, slow release urea.
The control was grown on unloaded zeolite and fertigated with a complete nutrient solution.
The experiment was conducted for growing greenhouse tomatoes using a randomized block design replicated thrice.
The substrate was packed into 20-L polyethylene bags each used to cultivate two plants.
The seedlings were transplanted on November 14, 2008, and harvest began on April 28, 2009 and ended on June 23, 2009. The results did not show any significant differences between marketable tomato yield in tests Z1 – Z2 compared to the control, 6-6.1 against 6.8 kg m-2, respectively, while marketable yield in test Z3 was just 3 kg m-2 owing to the large percentage of blossom end rot.
Nitrogen leaching was lowest in test Z2, N = 6.93 g bag-1, which did not differ significantly from the control, N = 7.10 g bag-1, while the values for Z1 and Z3 were 24.6 and 18.19 g bag-1, respectively.
Authors
A.B. Pisanu, F. Chessa, S. Meloni, N. Fadda, M. Vacca, F. Sanna , M. Corda
Keywords
clinoptilolite, soilles, greenhouse, tomato, leaching
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