Chabazitic zeolitite in cultivation and spray protection against Phytophthora infestans and Tuta absoluta in Solanum lycopersicum

Research objective: This article aims to highlight how chabazite zeolitite can lead to better growth and protection of tomato plants, in particular the benefits it can bring to crops both when buried in the soil, in terms of plant growth and fruit production, and as a reduction in the incidence of fungal diseases and insect attack when used as a spray in water.

Materials and Methods: The experiments, which began in March 2024, were conducted in the CREA-OF greenhouses in Pescia (Pt), Tuscany, Italy (43°54′N 10°41′E) on tomato cv ‘Ciliegino’ plants. The plants were placed in pots with a diameter of 14, 20 plants for 3 replications, for a total of 60 seedlings per experimental thesis. The first trial on Solanum lycopersicum involved the following theses (irrigated and fertilised): i) peat 70% + pumice 30%; ii) peat 70% + pumice 20% + zeolitite chabazite 10%; iii) peat 70% + pumice 10% + zeolitite chabazite 20%. The second trial on Solanum lycopersicum included spray treatments with micronised zeolitite on the leaves to evaluate the control of diseases such as Phytophthora infestans and Tuta absoluta. The trial included the following theses (irrigated and fertilised): i) control with treatment with water sprayed on the leaves every 10 days; ii) control with treatment with Flipper 1 L/hl + Ranman Top 0.5L/hl, every 7 days; iii) treatment with zeolitite chabazite 5 kg/hl, every 7 days. On 19 September 2024, plant height (measured at 70 days after transplanting), plant nodes (measured at 70 days after transplanting), leaf area index, total dry biomass, fresh fruit weight and number of total fruits were determined. In addition, the number of plants affected by Phytophthora infestans and Tuta absoluta was evaluated.

Results and Discussion: The experiment showed that the use of zeolitite and chabazite added to the growing medium to the extent of 10-20% can effectively improve the vegetative and root growth of Solanum lycopersicum. Furthermore, when micronised zeolitite is micronised on leaves, it can contain diseases such as Phytophtora infestans and Tuta absoluta, the same as using conventional products. This experiment conducted on Solanum lycopersicum shows an improvement in plant growth in the theses treated with zeolite added to the substrate, due to increased water and nutrient uptake and increased microbiological interactions in the plant, as well as a significant improvement in protection against plant diseases when micronised zeolite is sprayed on the leaves. In addition to having an insect repellent effect, zeolite has a disintegrating and dehydrating effect. The product causes respiratory problems, burns the exoskeleton, creates flight problems and reflects light. In addition, zeolitite chabazite, having a rough structure, causes problems of adherence to the leaf. As for fungi, on the other hand, it reduces moisture on the leaf and inhibits spore germination, as demonstrated in other scientific works by the same author.

Conclusions: Zeolites have the potential to affect soil physical properties. In addition to reducing soil bulk density and increasing soil porosity, these factors can improve water retention, as well as their high internal pore volume. Also, due to the open network of the zeolite structure, new routes for water movement can be formed, resulting in improved infiltration rates and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Due to their outstanding chemical and physical properties, natural zeolites can be utilized in agricultural applications, such as their affinity for K+ and NH4+ and ability to exchange cations. Before any commercial applications can be made, it is necessary to evaluate the risk of leaching toxic surfactants loosely attached to zeolite surfaces. Using their ion exchange properties, natural, synthetic, and modified zeolite can be used to make slow-release nitrogen, potassium, and sulfur fertilizers. To control and release phosphorous slowly, zeolite ion exchange and mineral dissolution (similar to phosphate rock) can also be used. It is generally determined by a variety of experimental conditions how zeolite application impacts soil physical and chemical properties, including the type and rate of zeolite applied, the method of application, the texture and structure of the soil, the size of the zeolite particles, and the salinity of the water. Soils with coarse textures may benefit from zeolite amendments more than those with fine textures.