Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ZEOLITE AMENDMENT FOR ENHANCED ONION GROWTH WITH REDUCED MINERAL NITROGEN FERTILIZATION: A PROMISING APPROACH

Abd-Elbaset A. Alkharpotly, Ayman M. El-Ghamry, Mahmoud A.M. Abd El-Hady, Mohamed A. El-Sherpiny, Ahmed G. Baddour, Hemat A. El-Bauome, Hebat-Allah A. Hussein, Fatma M.A. Elkady, Mesfer M. Alqahtani, Fahad Mohammed Alzuaibr, Abdulrahman Alasmari, Abdulazi

Abstract

Onion, as one of the strategic crops, is a heavy feeder for nitrogen (N) nutrient. Despite the remarkable progress in the manufacturing of synthetic mineral nitrogen fertilizers, their excessive use with plants negatively affects human health after eating. So, the current research aims to reduce the onion mineral nitrogen requirement with keeping acceptable bulb yield without quality decline. So, a field trial was carried out aiming to assess different doses of mineral N [Usual dose of N and low dose of N (75% of the usual N dose)] as main plots. While zeolite [in the presence of zeolite and the absence of it] was evaluated as subplots. Also, the treatments of bio-stimulants i.e., yeast extract and algae in addition to control treatment represented the sub-sub plots. The maximum values of parameters expressing growth performance as well as onion mineryield and it’s quality were recorded with the combined treatment of zeolite + biostimulants extract under the usual N dose, noting the superiority of yeast extract to seaweed extract. Also, zeolite combined with a low N dose in the presence of both studied biostimulants recorded the best onion performance and productivity compared to that under the usualN dose without both zeolite and biostimulants. Also, there was an increase in the values of soil available nitrogen and soil WHC after harvest compared to the initial soil. Generally, this research work concludes that soil addition of zeolite combined with the exogenous application of biostimulants extracts will lead to the achievement of sustainability via raising N fertilizer efficiency. Based on these findings, we recommend further research to optimize the application rates of zeolite and biostimulants and investigate the long-term effects of these treatments on soil health and onion productivity. Furthermore, farmers and growers could benefit from incorporating zeolite and Biostimulants into their fertilizer programs to reduce the use of synthetic mineral nitrogen fertilizers and promote sustainable onion production.