Zeolites Enhance Soil Health, Crop Productivity and Environmental Safety

• Published in: Agronomy (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 3; p. 448
• Main Authors: Mondal, Mousumi, Biswas, Benukar, Garai, Sourav, Sarkar, Sukamal, Banerjee, Hirak, Brahmachari, Koushik, Bandyopadhyay, Prasanta Kumar, Maitra, Sagar, Brestic, Marian, Skalicky, Milan, Ondrisik, Peter, Hossain, Akbar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Agricultural production; agricultural productivity; Agriculture; agronomy; Aluminosilicates; Aluminum silicates; Ammonia; Ammonia pressure leaching; Ammonium; Chemical properties; Contamination; Crop growth; Crop production; Efficiency; Emissions; Essential nutrients; Eutrophication; Fertilizers; Food; Groundwater; heavy metal toxicity; Heavy metals; Leaching; Literature reviews; Minerals; nitrates; Nitrous oxide; Nutrient release; nutrient retention; Nutrients; Optimization; phosphates; Physical properties; Pollutants; pollution; Pollution control; potassium; Productivity; Resource efficiency; resource use efficiency; Retention; Saline water; Sedimentary rocks; Selectivity; soil; soil amelioration; Soil chemistry; Soil improvement; soil quality; Soils; sulfates; Toxicity; Urbanization; water conservation; Water scarcity; Water shortages; Water use; Water use efficiency; Zeolites
• ISSN: 2073-4395; 2073-4395
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy11030448

In modern days, rapid urbanisation, climatic abnormalities, water scarcity and quality degradation vis-à-vis the increasing demand for food to feed the growing population necessitate a more efficient agriculture production system. In this context, farming with zeolites, hydrated naturally occurring aluminosilicates found in sedimentary rocks, which are ubiquitous and environment friendly, has attracted attention in the recent past owing to multidisciplinary benefits accrued from them in agricultural activities. The use of these minerals as soil ameliorants facilitates the improvement of soil’s physical and chemical properties as well as alleviates heavy metal toxicity. Additionally, natural and surface-modified zeolites have selectivity for major essential nutrients, including ammonium (NH4+), phosphate (PO42−), nitrate (NO3−), potassium (K+) and sulphate (SO42−), in their unique porous structure that reduces nutrient leaching. The slow-release nature of zeolites is also beneficial to avail nutrients optimally throughout crop growth. These unique characteristics of zeolites improve the fertilizer and water use efficiency and, subsequently, diminish environmental pollution by reducing nitrate leaching and the emissions of nitrous oxides and ammonia. The aforesaid characteristics significantly improve the growth, productivity and quality of versatile crops, along with maximising resource use efficiency. This literature review highlights the findings of previous studies as well as the prospects of zeolite application for achieving sustenance in agriculture without negotiating the output.