Effect of zeolite and urea fertilizer on maize grown under saline conditions

Abstract

Saline soil is one of the major abiotic stresses that minify plant growth and crop productivity in arid and semiarid regions. A pot experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2019 to evaluate the effect of zeolite and urea fertilizer on growth and yield of maize grown under saline conditions. The experiment design was Factorial RCBD with four replicates, the first factor was zeolite level {0 (control), 2, 4 and 6 %} and the second factor was urea fertilizer level {0 (control), 30, 60 and 90 kg N/fed}. Results showed a significant increase in the vegetative growth characteristics of maize i.e. plant height, fresh and dry weight, total chlorophyll (SPAD), and leaf area under zeolite application treatments as compared with control (0% zeolite). Among the studied zeolite rates, 6% zeolite treatment resulted the highest vegetative growth parameters. Moreover, the application of urea fertilizer at 90 kg N/fed recorded the highest values of vegetative growth parameters, as compared with untreated treatment (control) which gave the lowest values of these traits. Zeolite application also enhanced plant NPK content and soil available NPK as compared with the untreated soil. The highest plant NPK content and soil available NPK were recorded under 6% zeolite rate. Similarly, application of 90 kg N/fed of urea fertilizer produced the highest plant NPK content and soil available NPK as compared with control. These results revealed that zeolite amendment mitigated salt stress, improved plant growth, and enhanced absorbing nutrients by plant and retaining nutrients in soil. The results concluded that zeolite amendment can be an efficient tool to increase crop productivity and food production, reduce nutrient losses and environmental pollution, and to expand the agricultural utilization of the low-quality soil in arid and semi-arid regions.