Effects of clinoptilolite zeolite on phosphorus dynamics and yield of Zea Mays L. cultivated on an acid soil

PLoS One. 2018 Sep 27;13(9):e0204401. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204401. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Efficient management of P fertilizers ensures good yield of crops and adequate food supply. In the acid soil of the tropics, soluble P is fixed by Al and Fe. Exploitation of the high CEC and pH of Clinoptilolite zeolite (CZ) could mitigate low soil pH and P fixation in acid soils. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of amending a weathered acid soil with CZ on: (i) soil P availability and other related soil chemical properties, and (ii) nutrient concentration, nutrient uptake, above-ground biomass, agronomic efficiency, and yield of Zea mays L. on a tropical acidic soil. Triple superphosphate (TSP), Egypt Rock phosphate (ERP), and Christmas Island Rock phosphate (CIRP) were used as P sources. The treatments evaluated were: (i) soil alone, (ii) 100% recommended fertilizer rate (NPK), and (iii) 75% fertilizer rate + Clinoptilolite zeolite. Selected soil chemical properties and P availability were determined before and after field trials. Zea mays L. above-ground biomass, nutrient concentration, nutrient uptake, agronomic efficiency, and fresh cob yield were also determined. Results revealed that the effects of treatments with and without CZ treatments on soil pH, P fractions, soil acidity, dry matter production, yield of maize, nutrient uptake, and agronomic efficiency were similar. Hence, suggesting CZ inclusion in the fertilization program of Zea mays L is beneficial in terms of reducing excessive or unbalanced use of chemical fertilizers due to reduction of fertilizers usage by 25%.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture / methods*
  • Biomass
  • Crops, Agricultural / growth & development
  • Crops, Agricultural / metabolism
  • Fertilizers
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Phosphorus / analysis
  • Phosphorus / metabolism*
  • Soil / chemistry*
  • Tropical Climate
  • Zea mays / growth & development*
  • Zea mays / metabolism*
  • Zeolites*

Substances

  • Fertilizers
  • Soil
  • clinoptilolite
  • Zeolites
  • Phosphorus

Grants and funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia for the collaborative research (ERGS grant number 5525019). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.