Journal Article

Application of Zeolites in Agriculture and Other Potential Uses: A Review

Mattii, Giovan Battista, Paoli, Francesca, Salvi, Linda, Fucile, Maddalena, Masciandaro, Grazia, Cataldo, Eleonora, Masini, Cosimo Maria, Manzi, Davide

2021

Overview

Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer and inappropriate fertilization designs have negative results in agricultural ecosystems, such as considerable nitrogen losses through nitrogen dioxide (NO2) soil leaching and ammonia NH3 volatilization. In addition, climate change, with rising summer temperatures and reduced precipitation, leads to production declines and water shortages in the soil. This review aims to highlight the characteristics of natural zeolite and focus on their multiple uses in agriculture. These minerals are tectosilicates showing an open three-dimensional structure involving the cations required to balance the framework electrostatic charge of aluminum and silicon tetrahedral units. Different research groups reported more than fifty natural zeolites; chabazite, clinoptilolite, phillipsite, erionite, stilbite, heulandite, and mordenite are the most well-known. Zeolites are great tools to help the farmer and agronomist cope with several issues, such as soil or water pollution, contamination by heavy metals, loss of nutrients, and loss of water-use efficiency (WUE) of drylands. These natural crystalline aluminosilicates are considered soil conditioners to improve soil chemical and physical properties, such as saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), infiltration rate, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and water-holding capacity (WHC). Owing to their properties, these materials are able to reduce nitrate leaching and ammonia volatilization. Zeolites are also known for their carrying capacity of slow-release macronutrients, micronutrients, and fertilizers. However, the potential of these materials in agricultural areas is apparent, and zeolites show the promise of contributing directly to improve agricultural ecosystems as a sustainable product.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Agricultural ecosystems / Agriculture / agronomists / agronomy / Aluminosilicates / Aluminum / Aluminum silicates / Ammonia / Ammonia pressure leaching / Arid lands / Arid zones / Carrying capacity / Cation exchange / cation exchange capacity / Cation exchanging / Cations / Climate change / compost / Contamination / Electrostatic charge / electrostatic interactions / farmers / Fertilization / Fertilizers / global warming / Green products / Heavy metals / Hydration / Infiltration rate / Leaching / Micronutrients / Minerals / nitrates / Nitrogen / Nitrogen dioxide / nitrogen fertilizers / Nutrients / Physical properties / saturated hydraulic conductivity / Sediments / silicon / Slow release fertilizers / Soil chemistry / Soil conditioners / Soil conditions / Soil contamination / Soil fertility / Soil improvement / Soil physical properties / Soil pollution / Soil properties / Soil water / Soils / summer / synthetic fertilizers / Volatilization / water holding capacity / Water pollution / Water shortages / water stress / Water use / water use efficiency / zeolite / Zeolites