Study and evaluation of natural zeolite and dried zeolite for the cultivation of friggitello pepper

Research objective: The aim of this research was to evaluate whether differences exist between natural and dried chabazite zeolite in the cultivation of Friggitello peppers

Materials and Methods: The experiments, which started in January 2023, were conducted in the CREA-OF greenhouses in Pescia (Pt), Tuscany, Italy (43°54′N 10°41′E) on 'Friggitello' pepper seedlings. The plants were placed in pots with a diameter of 16, 10 plants per 3 replications, for a total of 30 seedlings per experimental thesis. The pepper trial included the following theses (irrigated and fertilised): i) peat 70% + pumice 30%; ii) peat 70% + pumice 10% + natural chabazite zeolite 20%; iii) peat 70% + pumice 10% + dried chabazite zeolite 20%. Plant height, number of leaves, vegetative weight, root volume and length, number of fruits (peppers), fruit weight and the number of microorganisms in the substrate were determined on 18 July 2023.

Results and Discussion: The experiment showed that the use of chabazite zeolite can indeed significantly improve the vegetative and root growth and productive and size fruits of Friggitello pepper plants (Table 1). Clear differences in growth are evident between the use of natural zeolite (ZEONAT) and dried zeolite (ZEOESS), with the natural zeolite performing better with regard to all agronomic parameters analysed. In the substrate analysis, a greater presence of microbial biomass was found in the zeolite theses than in the control theses, with greater superiority of microorganisms in the substrate with natural chabsite zeolite. Zeolites are used successfully in the cultivation of many crops. Including cereals, vegetables, grapes and other fruits. By enhancing the absorption ability of soil, zeolite enhance the long-term quality of soil by retaining nutrients.

Conclusions: Due to its high absorption rate, cation exchange, catalysis, and dehydration capacity, chabazite is the most common zeolite for agricultural applications. Therefore, zeolite fertilizers are used to improve plant growth by improving their value. Additionally, they can be used as molecular sieves or filters and retain nitrogen in the manure and sludge they produce. For agricultural production, zeolites must have uniform properties and have unique properties such as cation exchange capacity, pH, and B content. Important differences exist between the use of a natural zeolite and a dried one, especially in the significant presence of useful microbiology in the interactions with the plant, in terms of growth and protection.