Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Zeolite Amendment Reduces Nitrogen and Phosphorus Leaching in Containerized Plant Production

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Commercial production of ornamental plants in soilless substrate poses significant risk of nutrient pollution, and development of management practices to reduce N and P leaching is urgently needed. This study aims to determine if zeolite amendment reduces the leaching of nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), and phosphorus (P) from soilless substrates incorporated with controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs). Tissue culture liners of a popular ornamental plant, peace lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Viscount’), were transplanted singly into 15-cm plastic pots containing the substrate amended with two zeolites (SC and XY), each at three rates of 10, 20, and 50 g per pot, respectively. Plants were grown in a shaded greenhouse for three months and irrigated at a 0.2 leachate fraction. Collected leachates were analyzed for NH4-N, NO3-N, and P. Results showed that both zeolites reduced N and P leaching with the 50 g per pot rate performing the best. Compared with the control, substrate amended with XY zeolite at 50 g per pot reduced NO3-N leaching by 38.34%, NH4-N leaching by 44.59%, and P leaching by 38.85%; substrate amended with SC zeolite at 50 g reduced NO3-N leaching by 52.42%, NH4-N leaching by 39.19%, and P leaching by 36.36%. Dry weights of plants grown in zeolite-amended substrates were higher than in the control substrate. This study highlights that zeolite amendment to soilless substrate is a sustainable practice for improving container plant production, while reducing N and P leaching and protecting our natural environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

Data generated or analyzed during the current study are presented in this article.

References

  • Andiru, G., Pasian, C., & Frantz, J. (2015). Effects of controlled-release fertilizer placement on nutrient leaching and growth of bedding impatiens. Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 33, 58–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barber, S. T. (1995). Soil Nutrient Bioavailability: A Mechanistic Approach (p. 384). John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broschat, T. K. (1995). Nitrate, phosphate, and potassium leaching from container-grown plants fertilized by several methods. HortScience, 30, 74–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broschat, T. K. (2001). Substrate nutrient retention and growth of container-grown plants in clinoptilolitic zeolite-amended substrates. HortTechnology, 11, 75–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carson, J. K., Campbell, L., Rooney, D., Clipson, N., & Gleeson, D. B. (2009). Minerals in soil select distinct bacterial communities in their microhabitats. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 67, 381–388.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J., & Wei, X. (2018). Controlled-release fertilizers as a means to reduce nitrogen leaching and runoff in container-grown plant production. In: Amanullah, Shah F (eds) Nitrogen in Agriculture-Updates. IntechOpen Ltd, Ltd, Rijeka. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.73055

  • Conover, C. A., & Poole, R. T. (1992). Effects of fertilizer and irrigation on leachate levels of NH4-N, NO3-N, and P in container production Nephrolepis exaltata “Fluffy Ruffle.” Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 10, 238–241.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conover, C. A., Satterthwaite, L. N., & Poole, R. T. (1994). Plant growth and NxO in leachate from Dieffenbachia maculata “Camille.” Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 12, 119–123.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, D. A. (1993). Reducing nitrogen leaching-losses from containerized plants: The effectiveness of controlled-release fertilizers. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 16, 533–545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Criscione, K. S., Fields, J. S., Owen, J. S., Fultz, L., Jr., & Bush, E. (2022). Evaluating stratified substrates effect on containerized crop growth under varied irrigation strategies. HortScience, 57(400), 413. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16288-21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eroglu, N., Emekci, M., & Athanassiou, C. G. (2017). Applications of natural zeolites on agriculture and food production. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 97, 3487–3499.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • García-Caparros, P., Llanderal, A., & Lao, M. T. (2017). Effects of salinity on growth, wateruse efficiency, and nutrient leaching of three containerized ornamental plants. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 48, 1221–1230. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2017.1341915

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Godoy, A., & Cole, J. C. (2000). Phosphorous source affects phosphorous leaching and growth of containerized spirea. HortScience, 35, 1249–1252. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.35.7.1249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He, Z. L., Calvert, D. V., Alva, A. K., Li, Y. C., & Banks, D. J. (2002). Clinoptilolite zeolite and cellulose amendments to reduce ammonia volatilization in a calcareous sandy soil. Plant and Soil, 247, 253–260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haque, S. E. (2021). How effective are existing phosphorus management strategies in mitigating surface water quality problems in the US? Sustainability, 13, 6565. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126565

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, Z. T., & Petrovic, A. M. (1994). Clinoptilolite zeolite influence on nitrate leaching and nitrogen use efficiency in simulated sand based golf greens. Journal of Environmental Quality, 23, 1190–1194.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kraljević Pavelić, S., Simović Medica, J., Gumbarević, D., Filošević, A., Pržulj, N., & Pavelić, K. (2018). Critical review on zeolite clinoptilolite safety and medical applications in vivo. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9, 1350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ku, C. S. M., & Hershey, D. R. (1997). Growth response, nutrient leaching, and mass balance for potted Poinsettia. II: Phosphorus. Journal of American Society for Horticultural Science, 122, 459–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Majsztrik, J. C., Fernandez, R. T., Fisher, P. R., Hitchcock, D. R., Lea-Cox, J., Owen, J. S., Jr., Oki, L. R., & White, S. A. (2017). Water use and treatment in container-grown specialty crop production: A review. Water Air Soil Pollution, 228, 151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Majsztrik, J. C., Ristvey, A. G., & Lea-Cox, J. D. (2011). Water and nutrient management in the production of container-grown ornamentals. Horticultural Review, 38, 253–296.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Million, J. B., & Yeager, T. H. (2022). Fabric containers increased irrigation demand but decreased leachate loss of nitrogen and phosphorus compared with conventional plastic containers during production of dwarf Bufford holly. HortScience, 57, 743–749.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nyamangara, J., Bergstrom, L. F., Piha, M. I., & Giller, K. E. (2003). Fertilizer use efficiency and nitrate leaching in a tropical sandy soil. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32, 599–606.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perrin, T. S., Boettinger, J. L., Drost, D. T., & Norton, J. M. (1998). Decreasing nitrogen leaching from sandy soil with ammonium-loaded clinoptilolite. Journal of Environmental Quality, 27, 656–663.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pitton, B. J. L., Oki, L. R., Sisneroz, J., & Evans, R. Y. (2022). A nursery system nitrogen balance for production of a containerized woody ornamental plant. Scientia Horticulturae, 291, 110569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110569

  • Sharpley, A. N., Chapra, S. C., Wedepohl, R., Sims, J. T., Daniel, T. C., & Reddy, K. R. (1994). Managing agricultural phosphorus for protection of surface waters: Issues and options. Journal of Environmental Quality, 23, 437–451.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharpley, A. N., Smith, S. J., & Naney, J. W. (1987). Environmental impact of agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus use. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 35, 812–817.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shreckhise, J. H., Owen, J. S., Jr., Eick, M. J., Niemiera, A. X., Altland, J. E., & White, S. A. (2019). Dolomite and micronutrient fertilizer affect phosphorus fate in pine bark substrate used for containerized nursery crop production. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 83, 1410–1420.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shuman, L. M. (2001). Phosphate and nitrate movement through simulated golf greens. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 129, 305–318.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shuman, L. M. (2003). Fertilizer source effects on phosphate and nitrate leaching through simulated golf greens. Environmental Pollution, 125, 413–421.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Socolow, R. H. (1999). Nitrogen management and the future of food: Lessons from the management of energy and carbon. Proceedings of National Academic Sciences, 96, 6001–6008.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USDA (US Department of Agriculture). (2019). 2017 census of agriculture: summary and state data. United States Department of Agriculture and National Agricultural Statistics Service. Complete data available at www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.

  • USEPA (US Environmental Protection Agency). (1982). Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes. EPA 600/4–79–020. U.S. Gov. Print Office, Washington, DC.

  • Wang, Z. H., & Li, S. X. (2019). Nitrate N loss by leaching and surface runoff in agricultural land: A global issue (a review). Advances in Agronomy, 156, 159–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, X., Chen, J., Gao, B., & Wang, Z. (2020). Role of controlled and slow release fertilizers in fruit crop nutrition. In A. K. Srivastava and C. Hu (eds) Diagnosis and Management of Nutrient Constraints, Amsterdam: Elsevier, 555–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818732-6.00039-3

  • William, K. A., & Nelson, P. V. (1997). Using pre-charged zeolite as a source of potassium and phosphate in soilless container medium during potted chrysanthemum production. Journal of American Society for Horticultural Science, 122, 703–708.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, J. W. C., Chan, C. W. Y., & Cheung, K. C. (1998). Nitrogen and phosphorus leaching from fertilizer applied on golf course: Lysimeter study. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 107, 335–345.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeager, T., Wright, R., Fare, D., Gilliam, C., Johnson, J., Bilderback, T., & Zondag, R. (1993). Six states survey of container nursery nitrated nitrogen runoff. Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 11, 206–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank St. Cloud Mining Co. for providing SC zeolite and Teague Mineral Products for providing XY zeolite as well as Agri-Starts, Inc. for providing Spathiphyllum ‘Viscount’ liners used in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seminole High School, 2701 Ridgewood Avenue, Sanford, FL, 32773, USA

    Bo Chen

  2. Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Apopka, FL, 32703, USA

    Qibing Wang & Jianjun Chen

  3. Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL, 33031, USA

    Yuncong Li & Yongshan Wan

Authors
  1. Bo Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qibing Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jianjun Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yuncong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yongshan Wan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Bo Chen: Investigation, experimental work, original draft preparation. Qibing Wang and Yuncong Li: methodology, guidance, validation, reviewing and editing. Jianjun Chen and Yongshan Wan: conceptualization, methodology, guidance, reviewing and editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongshan Wan.

Ethics declarations

Competing Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, B., Wang, Q., Chen, J. et al. Zeolite Amendment Reduces Nitrogen and Phosphorus Leaching in Containerized Plant Production. Water Air Soil Pollut 235, 304 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-024-07112-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-024-07112-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation