Effects of Zeolite Application and Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilization on Growth, Productivity, and Nitrogen and Water Use Efficiency of Maize ( Zea mays L.) Cultivated Under Mediterranean Conditions

Ioanna Kakabouki (), Ioannis Roussis (), Antonios Mavroeidis, Panteleimon Stavropoulos, Panagiotis Kanatas, Konstantinos Pantaleon, Antigolena Folina, Dimitrios Beslemes and Evangelia Tigka
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Ioanna Kakabouki: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Roussis: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Antonios Mavroeidis: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Panteleimon Stavropoulos: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Panagiotis Kanatas: Department of Crop Science, University of Patras, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece
Konstantinos Pantaleon: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Antigolena Folina: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Dimitrios Beslemes: Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Dimitra, 41335 Larissa, Greece
Evangelia Tigka: Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Dimitra, 41335 Larissa, Greece

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-32

Abstract: Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is one of the most crucial agronomic management practices for increasing grain yield in maize crops. However, the long application may adversely affect soil quality. For achieving sustainable agricultural production, the current research set out to evaluate the short-term effects of the addition of zeolite as a soil amendment and N fertilization on the maize growth, yield, quality, N- and water-use efficiency in three locations (Athens, Messolonghi, and Karditsa) in Greece. Each experiment set up during the spring–summer 2024 cultivation period was laid out in a split-plot design with three main plots (Zeolite treatments: 0, 5, and 7.5 t ha −1 ) and four sub-plots (N fertilization treatments: 0, 100, 150, and 200 kg N ha −1 ). The results revealed that increasing the zeolite application rate from 0 to 7.5 t ha −1 led to a significant increase in grain yield, with the highest value (13.46, 12.46, and 14.83 t ha −1 in Athens, Messolonghi, and Karditsa, respectively) observed at 7.5 t ha −1 . In the same manner, the increasing inorganic N fertilization rate from 0 to 200 kg N ha −1 , also increased the grain yield. In general, most of the soil properties (soil organic matter, soil total nitrogen, total porosity, soil moisture content, and infiltration rate), root and shoot growth (root length density, plant height, leaf area index and dry weight), N content and uptake of the grains, and aerial biomass, as well as, thousand kernel weight, N harvest index (NHI), and water use efficiency (WUE), were positively affected by both of the examined factors. In conclusion, this study proved that the increasing rates of zeolite as a soil amendment and N fertilization up to a rate of 7.5 t ha −1 and 200 kg N ha −1 , respectively, improved soil properties, promoted plant development, and increased grain yield, grain and biomass N uptake, NHI, and WUE of the maize crop cultivated in clay–loam soils and under Mediterranean conditions, where the experimental trials set up.

Keywords: grain yield; inorganic fertilization; nitrogen utilization; nitrogen harvest index; urea fertilizer; zeolite (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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