Keywords
vegetables
sustainable agriculture
yield
How to Cite
Abstract
Zeolites are crystalline, nanoporous minerals with a high capacity for water adsorption and nutrient retention, which can be gradually released into the root zone. These properties make them promising materials for improving nutrient availability and crop productivity. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of zeolite incorporation into the substrate on the development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Maximus) plants. Seeds were sown in polystyrene foam trays and irrigated with Universal Steiner nutrient solution at 25 and 50 % concentrations. After thirty days of sowing, the seedlings were transplanted into 3 L polyethylene bags containing a mixture of tezontle (particles > 0.5 cm) and zeolite at 0, 2, 4 and 6 % (v/v). The addition of zeolite to the substrate reduced plant height and leaf number at the tested doses; additionally, the 6 % treatment decreased the length of the largest leaf compared with the control. The addition of zeolite to the substrate affects lettuce plant development.
References
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