ABSTRACT
Efficient use of fertilizer and water is crucial in order to maintain or increase high quality crop yields and to eliminate the environmental concerns over production of food that does not endanger health. Therefore an increase in alternative cultivations practices, including use of composts and zeolites, etc., is required. The proper management of treated agricultural wastes (e.g. composts) contributes to the protection of the quality of water and soil by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, thus reducing the leachate and protecting renewable and non renewable resources. Natural zeolites and particularly clinoptilolite can be used in agriculture in order to improve soil quality and to increase yields, thanks to their unique properties. Ion-exchange properties of zeolites can be utilized in agriculture because of their large porosity and high cation-exchange capacity. Natural zeolites are generally considered to be low-cost, safe and environment-friendly materials, suitable for a vast variety of uses such as soil remediation, land erodibility control and improvement of soil conditions in arid and semiarid environments, particularly in sandy and clay poor soils. Moreover, zeolites can enhance organic fertilizers’ efficiency. However, despite their very good properties and benefits for agriculture, zeolites have not received wide acceptance and application, mainly due to the lack of specific guidelines and application practices. Rational and profitable use, however, requires a systematic and comprehensive research effort.
