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Reduction of Nitrate Nitrogen from Alkaline Soils Cultivated with Maize Crop Using Zeolite-Bentonite Soil Amendments

Molla A, Ioannou Z, Dimirkou A, Mollas S

The present study examines the efficiency of soil amendments regarding the retention of nitrate ions, from maize (ZEA MAYS). The experiments were performed in May – June 2010 at the greenhouse of the University of Thessaly in Volos (Central Greece). The soil amendments that have been used for the experiments were zeolite, bentonite and zeolite – bentonite in a proportion of 3:1 w/w. Two doses of nitrogen were used (400 and 800 kg N ha-1) in the form of NH4NO3. Nine treatments occurred; six of them contained soil amendments. Each treatment repeated three times. According to the statistical analysis of the greenhouse experiments’ data, bentonite and zeolite – bentonite increased the height of the plants in the dose of 800 kg N ha-1. Moreover, all the used soil amendments reduced the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in soil and plants. Consequently, such materials can be used for the remediation of polluted soils with nitrogen and the production of high quality products.