Effect of Zeolites on Soil Quality, Plant Growth and Nutrient Uptake Efficiency in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)
Abstract
Zeolites (sodium alumino silicates) are effective controlled nutrient release materials that are highly useful to improve soil nutrient use efficiency, plant uptake of nutrients especially NPK because of its twin benefits of high cation exchange and water retention properties. In this paper, we evaluated different types of synthetic zeolites applications viz. fly ash based near neutral agricultural grade (FAZ) and commercial (CZ) zeolites (zeolite 4A) in tropical laterite soils with respect to soil chemical properties, soil water content, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) as well as plant growth parameters and yield of sweet potato crop (variety ST-14) with an aim of understanding the effectiveness of zeolites on NPK uptake efficiency. A pot study was conducted in farm soils of CTCRI (acidic, sandy loam soils) using six treatments viz. FAZ applied at 1% and 2% levels (w/w, zeolite: soil) (denoted as F1 and F2), pH treated CZ at 1% level, potassium and zinc impregnated CZ (K-CZ and Zn-CZ) at 1% and a control (with out zeolites) each replicated thrice in a completely randomized design. Study showed that 1% zeolite amended soils registered a better soil moisture increase over control to an extent of 20.9 % and tuber yield increase of 57% over control. Soils amended with both FAZ levels are well below the critical limits in terms of SAR. The uptake efficiency of FAZ amended at 1% (F1) rate was significantly superior in respect of N and P as compared to F2 and control. The study also suggested that FAZ at 1% will be beneficial for sweet potato crop.References
Amrhein, C., Haghnia, G.H., Taisoon, K., Mosher, P.A., Gagajena, R.C., Amanios,T., La, T.L.De., Kim, T.S and Torre, L, De, L. 1996. Synthesis and properties of zeolites from coal fly ash. Envtl. Sci Technol. 30 (3): 735-742.
Bob Wiedenfeld. 2003. Zeolite as a soil amendment for vegetable production in the lower Rio Grande valley. Subtropical Plant Sci.55: 7-10.
FAO, 2010. FAOSTAT. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Fansuri, H., Pritchard, D. and Zhang, D. 2008. Manufacture of low grade zeolites from fly ash for fertilizer applications. Report No.91. Centre for fuels and energy, Curtin University of technology, Australia.
Ghodrati, M., Sims, J.T and Vasilas, B.S. 1995. Evaluation of fly ash as a soil amendment for the Atlantic coastal plain. Soil hydraulic properties and elemental leaching. J. Water Soil Air Pollut. 81: 349-361.
Imam, A. 2007. Use of fly ash in turnip cultivation. Pollut. Res. 26(1): 39-42.
Lai, T.M and Eberl, D.D. 1986. Controlled and renewable release of phosphorus in soils from mixtures of phosphate rock and NH4+ exchanged clinoptilolite. Zeolites,6: 129-132.
Page, A.L., Elseewi, A.A and Straughan, I.R. 1979. Physical and chemical properties of fly ash from coal fired power plants with special reference to environmental impacts. Residue Rev. 71: 83-120.
Paneque Ramirez, 1992. Cultivation harvesting and storage of sweet potato products. In: Roots, tubers, plantains and bananas in animal feeding. (Eds Machin, D., Nyvold, S.), Proceedings of the FAO Expert Consultation held in CIAT, Cali, Colombia 21.25 January 1991; FAO Animal Production and Health Paper . 95.
Polat, E., Karaca M., Demir, H. and Naci-Onus. 2004. Use of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) in agriculture. J. Fruit Ornamental and Pl Res. 12:183-189.
Tallai, M. 2011. Effect of Bentonite and zeolite on characteristics and change of microbial activity of acidic humic sandy soil. Ph.D thesis submitted to University of Debrecen, JenoHankoczy Doctoral school of plant production, Horticultural and food sciences,p.14.
Taylor, E.M and Schumann, G.E. Fly ash and lime amendment of acidic coal soil to aid revegetation. J. Environ. Qual. 17 : 120-124.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Dear Author(s)
We need your written permission before we can publish your accepted article in the Journal of Root Crops. Please read this form carefully, complete it and palace your signature below. A scanned copy of this form may be mailed to us within two days of receipt of this letter. Our email ID is: isrc_ctcri@yahoo.com or editor_jrc@yahoo.com or sreekumarctcri@gmail.com
Details:
In consideration of the publication in the Journal of Root Crops of our contribution entitled
(Name of the paper): .................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................... by us (all Authors’ names) ..........................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
A. To be filled in if copyright belongs to you
I/we hereby assign to Indian Society for Root Crops, Thiruvananthapuram, India, the full copyright in all forms and media in the said contribution, including open/ restricted access to online version. They own the rights to freely grant or distribute the paper to any third party or public
Please tick this box if you are the sole author of the paper
Please tick this box if you are authorised to execute this copyright transfer on behalf of all the authors of the above article
Name (block letters): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......
Institution/Company:..................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
Signature:.....................................................................; Date: ....................................................
B. To be filled in if copyright does not belong to you
1. Name and address of copyright holder:................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
2. The copyright holder hereby grants Indian Society for Root Crops, Thiruvananthapuram, India the full copyright in all forms and media in the said contribution, including open/ restricted access to online version. They own the rights to freely grant or distribute the paper to any third party or public.
(Signature of copyright holder or authorised agent)
