
Hydroponics ( Soil-free cultivation ) or as Non-terrestrialcultivation is known, it is an alternative method of cultivation that achieves high efficiency in the use of water, fertilizers and pesticides, reduces soil and water pollution,With the highest possible of cultivated plants.It is considered science and art, where the basics of agriculture in general depend on the way of feeding and caring for plants, at the same time, it is characterized by great flexibility in relation to design and in the selection of the various environments forcultivation, where zeolite is one of the best growth media that are used alone or as a mixture with other materials.
What is Zeolite:
Zeolite is a natural mineral of hydrated aluminum silicate,it has excellent properties in terms of its ability to hold and save water, high positive ion exchange capacity, and its ability to hold heavy metals and toxic materials in its surroundings (molecular sieves).
Benefits of using Zeolite in growth media:
The use of zeolite in growth media (alone or mixed with other substances) leads to the following:
Availability of water and nutrients continuously for plants:
The important properties of zeolite in keeping water and nutrients within its cage-like formula and making it available to plant roots regularly,it enables the plant to grow in the best way without fluctuating growth due to the lack of water and nutrients in the inter irrigation periods in the Hydroponicssystems, it also ensures a uniform distribution of moisture and elements much higher than other media currently in use (such as volcanic tuff, "coconut", coconut peat, perlite, etc.).
Maintaining balance for the acidity of the nutrient medium and preventing plant poisoning resulting from the increase of some elements:
The Zeolite, especially with a high calcium content (free or low in sodium),it works to neutralize the impact of some heavy elements, such as copper, which are increasingly concentrated in the solution and the agricultural media, other than Zeolite, leading to a change in the acidity of the medium, poisoning symptoms appear on plants,which leads to a decrease in production in terms of quantity and quality, where zeolite neutralizes the effect of these elements and maintains their levels within the useful range of the plant.
Reducing harmful organic substances and pathogens in the solution:
With its primary characteristic, Zeolite works as molecular sieves to remove organic materials released from plant roots that inhibit the growth of other plants (Allelopathy), which removes its negative impact on the crop, also, Zeolites have unique properties in removing many types of pathogens, such as different bacteria, fungi, and yeasts, and with high levels of nutritional solution, and prevent its effect on the plant.
It is noted that sodium-free Zeolites can be sterilized (for example, by steam) to eliminate any types of microorganisms attached to it, and re-use it for agriculture without affecting the quantity and quality of productivity, and without creating a sodium accumulation in the food medium when mixing with other substances (such as coconut peat, perlite, etc.), and without creating a sodium accumulation in the food medium when mixing with other substances (such as coconut peat, perlite, etc.).
Increasing the ventilation of the medium of growth and preventing compression:
The Zeolite provides ventilation to suit the needs of the roots without causing them to dry out, and it allows them to grow and penetrate between molecules in the medium of growth,this increases the total mass of the roots and their ability to better absorb water and nutrients.
Results on crops grown without land (without soil)
Increase productivity:
Due to the homogeneity of the food medium in terms of water and nutrient distribution, reduce negative physiological diseases and symptoms, an increase in productivity was recorded in the majority of crops for which Zeolites were used in a mixture of medium growth.
Improving the quality of production:
Due to the constant and balanced availability of nutrients for the plant, especially ammonium, potassium and calcium, the results of adding zeolite to the nutritional medium mixture showed a significant improvement in the quality of production in terms of taste, flavor and homogeneity in the size of the fruits, in addition to the distinctive properties of each crop (such as an increase of ascorbic acid in tomatoes and an increased crunching in lettuce), there was also an increase in the life of the fruits after the harvest(Shelf life).
Increased profitability:
The increase in theefficient of the use of water and fertilizers, and the reduction of energy consumption (as a result of reducing the number of irrigation of the ability of zeolites to retain water and nutrients for a longer period around the roots of the plant), and reducing the impact of diseases on the crop, improving the quality of the product (and hence increasing the price), in addition to reusing the medium without a negative impact on the subsequent agricultural cycles (for zeolites that are free or low in sodium content), all of this increases the profit margin from cultivation without soil.
The rate of zeolite used in agriculture
The use of zeolite depends on the type of crop, the method of controlling the food solution, and the materials that are mixed with it. In general, it is recommended to mix zeolite with various types of other growth media (such as perlite, coconut peat, etc.) in rates ranging between 15-30% of the medium size.
In the case of using zeolite separately, it is recommended to refer to the references and studies related thereto, to determine the method of mixing nutrient solutions, irrigation rate and other required agricultural operations.
