Reducing Egypt Rock Phosphate Use in Zea mays Cultivation on an Acid Soil Using Clinoptilolite Zeolite

Abstract

Insufficient supply of P for initial growth of crops does not only limit N uptake but it also leads to poor yield of crops. In acidic soils of the tropics, sorption of P occurs mainly on surfaces of Fe and Al oxides and hydroxides. Most of the P added through mineral fertilizers is fixed by high Al and Fe oxide concentrations and transformed into insoluble P compounds. Reduction of Al and Fe is important so as to ensure adequate supply and readily available P for crops uptake. A number of studies using zeolites as an amendment in the fertilization programs of crops have improved crops production, nutrients uptake, and nutrients use efficiency. However, there is dearth of information on the use of clinoptilolite zeolite (CZ) to reduce P fixation not to mention reduction of N, P, and K fertilizers use in agriculture. This study was conducted to: (i) determine dry matter production, nutrients concentration, nutrients uptake, and use efficiency of Zea mays (Hibrimas variety) by including CZ in the fertilization program of Zea mays planted on an acidic soil, and (ii) determine the effect of including CZ in the fertilization program of Zea mays on selected chemical properties of an acidic soil. Egypt rock phosphate (ERP), urea, and muriate of potash were used in this study. Seventy five percent (w/w) of the recommended N, P, and K fertilizers for Zea mays were combined with CZ. Standard procedures were used to determine soil pH, inorganic nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable aluminium, iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and organic matter before and after planting. Zea mays were harvested at tasselling stage and measured for dry matter production, nutrients uptake and use efficiency. The effect of CZ application with 75% of fertilizers (E2) and 100% fertilizers (E1) were statistically similar for selected soil chemical properties, dry matter production, nutrients concentration, uptake of nutrients, and nutrients use efficiency except for N. Nitrogen use efficiency for E2 was better than that of E1. These findings suggest that adoption of CZ with 25% reduction of N, P, and K fertilizers are useful. Further field trials and economic analysis are recommended to confirm the findings of this study. These aspects are being investigated in our on-going field experiments.

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

“…Regardless of P fertilizer type, 75% fertilizer amended with CZ resulted in comparable dry matter production as the fertilizer recommended rate. This result is consistent with those reported in our pot studies [ 17 , 34 , 35 ] thus, indicating the beneficial effects of CZ as a slow release fertilizer. Therefore, CZ addition along with 25% reduction of fertilization in the planting cycles suggests a need for reduction in the existing fertilization especially for long term maize cultivation.…”

“…Besides, the lack of significant effect was due to the amounts of CZ and fertilizer used in this present study were lower (for economic reasons) than those reported in other studies [ 14 , 22 , 19 , 85 ]. Probably, in long term application, significant results could be obtained as noted in other studies where inorganic fertilizers were mixed with zeolite [ 17 , 19 , 21 ]. Inclusion of zeolite in fertilization programmes is reported to cause a phenomenal growth of microorganisms in soils, increase in nutrient intake by plants, ameliorate negative effects of soil acidity, prevention of soil erosion, increase cations storage capacity of soils, and building of precious humus complexes [ 86 , 87 ].…”

“…A prior pot experiment of an acid soil amended with P fertilizers and CZ failed to report appreciable plant response effects (above-ground biomass and nutrient recovery). However, it is worth noting that CZ incorporation in the fertilization programme is beneficial and could be used to reduce the use of N, P, and K fertilizers of Zea mays cultivated on acid soils [ 16 , 17 , 34 – 35 ]. We retested the effect of CZ amendments on maize but under field conditions and at a larger scale than the aforementioned pot experiment.…”

Effect of Amending Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer on Selected Soil Physical Properties in Entisols

“…However, the critical nutrient such as phosphorus is found low in the organic amendment and difficult to meet crop nutrient demands through organic amendment alone (Morris, Kelly, Kopicki, & Byerlee, 2007). In Malaysia, 90 % of the inorganic amendment was used to maintain the agricultural production (Nur Aainaa, Ahmed, Kasim, & Ab. Majid, 2015).…”

“…Rasau Series was low in pH at 3.65, low electrical conductivity (EC) 2.2 dS m -1 , high of phosphorus (P) 4.66 μg g -1 in the surface layer and high of potassium (K) 34.78 μg g -1 (Gasim, Ismail, Mir, Rahim, & Toriman, 2011). In this experiment the maize (Zea mays L.) Hibrimas was selected due to its commonly used in Malaysia as a test crop (Nur Aainaa, Ahmed, Kasim, & Ab. Majid, 2015).…”