An evaluation of pumice, unloaded clinoptilolite and nutrient-loaded clinoptilolite zeolites, as plant growth substrates in the intensive production of long season glasshouse crops

Abstract

Annual losseso f nitrogen from existing glasshousec rop production substrates ystemsc ould be as high as 600 kg ha 1, using an average of 30% drainwater containing a nitrate-nitrogen concentration of 200 mg 1". The use of nutrient recirculation systems such as nutrient film technique (NFT) helped to reduce nutrient losses to the environment but the commercial area of NFT has decreasedd ue to high initial capital costs, concernso ver diseaset ransmissionw ithin the system and an absence of recent research and development. Most substrate systems rely on the provision of liquid nutrient feeds at every watering. This study examines clinoptilolite which is able to selectively store, supply and exchange cations with plant roots. The use of the naturally-occurring volcanic aluminosilicates pumice and clinoptilolite zeolite in the intensive production of edible and ornamental protected crops, tomatoes, sweet peppers and standard carnations was studied. Pumice from Sicily, Italy and clinoptilolite (84-87%) from Beli Plast, Bulgaria were used in the experiments. The management of the pumice and unloaded clinoptilolite systems involved provision of all the plant growth nutrients via a drip irrigation system. In comparison, the nutrient-loaded clinoptilolites were examined using only water in the irrigation cycles which allowed relatively unimpeded cation exchange to take place between the clinoptilolite and the surrounding solution, thus providing nutrients for plant roots. The total cation exchange capacity of clinoptilolite was measured as 132.0-158.3 meq 100g'', compared with 1.8 meq 100g-' for pumice. Unloaded clinoptilolite irrigated with nutrient-balanced liquid feeds gave yields and quality equivalent to those of tomatoes, peppers and standard carnations grown on rockwool, pumice and peat / peat alternatives. For the first nine months of an eighteen month experiment, the yield and quality of standard carnation flowers from high nutrient-loaded clinoptilolite matched those from pumice receiving liquid feeds at every watering. Thereafter, lower concentrations of available nitrogen and, to a lesser extent phosphorus, limited production by up to 25%. Drainwater nutrient concentrations were, however, extremely low and reduced the potential pollution risk to the surrounding environment. Drainwater nitrate-nitrogen concentrations of below 10 mg 1'' were measured, compared with 100-300 mg 1.1 for pumice. Drainwater potassium concentrations were also comparatively low at < 20 mg 1'' for clinoptilolite and 200 mg 1" for pumice. Phosphorus concentrationsi n the drainwater did not exceed1 2 mg 1.1c, omparedw ith a maximum of 70 mg 1'1 in drainwater from pumice. The inclusion of phosphate rock (apatite) in with the clinoptilolite provided a source of phosphorus available to plants and the dissolution of apatite was regulated by the rate of absorption of phosphorus and calcium by plants. In all the experiments, clinoptilolite adsorbed ammonium-nitrogen and potassium, releasing calcium and sodium. However, concentrations of sodium released into the root zone were not harmful to plant growth. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration of new, fully-expanded carnation leaves was 51.7% lower than the target levels. The nutrient loading of nitrogen and phosphorus regulated the overall yield of the crops evaluated in the experiments. The use of nutrient-loaded clinoptilolite to produce commercial crops and reduce environmental pollution by regulating the concentration of nutrients in the drainwater over long periods of time is further explored in the study.

Date of Award	2003
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Plymouth
Sponsors	States of Jersey Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, ADAS and Hazlewood VHB