Zeolite and Vermiculite as Inorganic Soil Amendments Modify Shoot-Root Allocation, Mineral Nutrition, Photosystem II Activity and Gas Exchange Parameters of Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill) Plants

One of the most challenging topics for the sustainable agriculture is how to decrease high fertilization rates. A pot experiment, exploring the effects of zeolite (ZEO) and/or vermiculite (VER) as soil amendments, comparing to the soil application of a controlled release fertilizer (CRF), was realiz...

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Published in:Agronomy (Basel) 2021-01, Vol.11 (1), p.109
Main Authors: Chatzistathis, Theocharis, Papaioannou, Evgenia, Giannakoula, Anastasia, Papadakis, Ioannis E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural management
Agriculture
Castanea sativa
Chestnut
chestnut nurseries
chestnut orchards
chlorophyll fluorescence
Controlled release
controlled release fertilizer (CRF)
Copper
Fertilization
Fertilizers
Gas exchange
Manganese
nutrient uptake
Nutrients
Nutrition
Orchards
Parameters
Photosynthesis
Photosystem II
Plant growth
plant nutrition
Seeds
Soil amendment
Soil fertility
Soil investigations
Soil treatment
Stomata
Sustainability management
Sustainable agriculture
Vegetation
Vermiculite
Zeolites
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Summary:One of the most challenging topics for the sustainable agriculture is how to decrease high fertilization rates. A pot experiment, exploring the effects of zeolite (ZEO) and/or vermiculite (VER) as soil amendments, comparing to the soil application of a controlled release fertilizer (CRF), was realized in chestnut plants. Various parameters related to soil fertility, and plant growth, nutrition, and physiology were investigated to gain knowledge towards more sustainable management. After ZEO application and in comparison to CRF, an impressive boost in soil K was achieved. Moreover, soil P and Zn levels were higher in the VER-treated soil, compared to CRF. Leaf K and Ca concentrations were significantly higher in ZEO, compared to the VER treatment; the highest foliar N and Zn concentrations were measured in CRF and VER, respectively. However, significantly lower foliar Mn and Cu were found in VER. The highest root biomass produced in the ZEO treated plants. For most nutrients, their total uptake per plant was higher in CRF and ZEO. Finally, photosynthetic rates were higher in VER (mainly due to non-stomatal factors) and CRF (mainly due to stomatal factors). Our data open a discussion towards the application of ZEO and/or VER as soil amendments in chestnut nurseries and orchards, aiming at partially decreasing fertilization rates and boosting sustainable nutrient management.
ISSN:2073-4395
2073-4395
DOI:10.3390/agronomy11010109