Effects of Siliceous Natural Nanomaterials Applied in Combination with Foliar Fertilizers on Physiology, Yield and Fruit Quality of the Apricot and Peach Trees

Abstract

Siliceous natural nanomaterials (SNNMs), i.e., diatomaceous earth and natural zeolites, have a nanoporous structure with large active surfaces that adsorb cations or polarized molecules. Such nanoporous feature determines the effects related to SNNM utilization as low-risk plant protectants and soil improvers. This work used SNNMs from Romanian quarries as carriers for foliar fertilizers applied to stone-fruit trees, apricot and peach. We determined the effects of SNNMs on the physiology, yield and fruit quality of the treated stone-fruit trees. SNNM application determined impacts specific to the formation of particle films on leaves: reduced leaf temperature (up to 4.5 °C) and enhanced water use efficiency (up to 30%). Foliar fertilizers’ effects on yield are amplified by their application with SNNMs. Yield is increased up to 8.1% by the utilization of SNNMs with foliar fertilizers, compared to applying foliar fertilizer alone. Diatomaceous earth and natural zeolites promote the accumulation of polyphenols in apricot and peach fruits. The combined application of SNNMs and foliar fertilizer enhance the performance of peach and apricot trees.

Mango performance as affected by the soil application of zeolite and biochar under water salinity stresses

“…Additionally, it also improved the fruit content from total sugar content and TSS percentage, while it minimized the fruit acidity comparing with control in the two seasons. Our results also in the same trend with the findings of Moale et al (2021); they reported that the application of zeolite on apricot and peach increased the yield, fruit quality, and water use efficiency up to 30%.…”

Preparation of a Veterinary Supplement That Reduces Aflatoxin B1 Availability

“…The following materials were used for the preparation of the veterinary supplement: oregano essential oil (Solaris, Bucharest, Romania); diatomaceous earth (Sibiciu de Sus quarry, Industriile de Diatomit, Pătârlagele, Buzău, Romania); soy protein isolate (Supro ® Ex 37 HG IO, Solae, Geneva, Switzerland); whey protein concentrate (WPC 80, Milkiland, Warsaw, Poland), calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH) 2 , and potassium hydroxide (KOH) (Chimopar, Bucharest, Romania). The diatomaceous earth was activated by acid leaching and neutralization, with a specific surface area determined using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method of 32.3 ± 1.8 m 2 /g [13]. Aflatoxin B 1 standard, porcine gastric pepsin (400 U mg −1 ), and sodium chloride were supplied by Sigma-Aldrich (Merck Group, Darmstadt, Germany).…”

Fertilización foliar complementaria mejora el rendimiento, sanidad y rentabilidad del cacao en agroecosistemas de secano

“…De forma similar, Oro et al (2020) reportaron que el uso de bioestimulantes con fertilización previa, produjeron mayor cantidad de frutos sanos en cacao, en comparación a tratamientos que solo recibieron aplicación de bioestimulantes sin fertilización. Finalmente, el efecto de la tierra de diatomeas sobre los resultados obtenidos en cacao, pueden deberse a los efectos descritos por Constantinescu et al (2020) y Moale et al (2021), quienes describieron que la aplicación foliar de tierra de diatomeas forma una película en el tejido foliar, que contribuye a reducir la temperatura foliar, aumenta el uso eficiente del agua, mejora la absorción de fertilizantes por la hoja, y que el rendimiento aumenta hasta un 8,1 % con la utilización de tierra de diatomeas con fertilizantes foliares, en comparación con la aplicación de fertilizantes foliares solos.…”