ABSTRACT
Zeolites belong to the natural rock the constant usage of which in science and practice has the following basis: its high ion-exchanging capacity, prolonged activity of water and salt changing mode in soil (after effect); selectivity towards NH 4 + and K +, which causes increasing the coefficient of their usage by plants and enhancing efficacy of mineral fertilizers.
Taking growing dosages (3–6––12 T/Hectares) of zeolites in red soils of West Georgia at the background of mineral fertilizers (NPK) caused increasing of P, K, Ca, Mg in tea leaves. Nitrogen decreasing tendency must be caused by selective absorption of NH 4 + by zeolites, which increases nitrogen usage coefficient by tea plant. Taking zeolites in the red soils with mineral fertilizers improves tea leave quality. Compared to the background option usage of zeolites by 12 tonnes/hectare dosage, caused increasing tannin and extractive substances by 3.8–3.3%. Zeolites improve physical-chemical properties of the soil, in particular: strong acid reaction of red soils was decreased up to pH 4.5–5.8, it was caused by increasing Calcium and Magnesium easily soluble in water, which caused increasing pH of soil. By taking 12 tonnes/hectare zeolites in soils P 2 O 5 and K 2 O concentration increase is indicated (P 2 O 5 – 78.5 mg/100 g; K 2 O – 14.6 mg/100 g) as well as hummus (4.22%) and total nitrogen consistency (0.29%) was increased in soils.
270Usage of zeolites as mineral fertilizers improves productivity qualities of the tea plant. Compared to NPK background taking zeolites by 12 tonnes/hectare in soils caused increasing normal shoots by 34.2%- and decreasing of stupid shoots by 51.3%.
