The role of natural and synthetic zeolites as soil amendments for mitigating the negative impacts of abiotic stresses to improve agricultural resilience

Abstract

• The role of zeolites in improving the soil physio-chemical characteristics along with plant performance is discussed. • The selective applications of appropriate natural and modified zeolites can improve plant stress resilience and reduce the effectiveness of disease-causing pathogens. • The utilization of zeolite could be an effective strategy for enhancing water and nutrient use efficiencies in arid and semi-arid areas Plants are exposed to different kinds of biotic and abiotic stresses which results in reduction and limitation of crops yield. The review presents the imminent threats posed by salinity, water scarcity and noxious metals to the agriculture sector and underscores protective role of natural and synthetic zeolite to ameliorate the deleterious impacts of ecological stresses to plants. Furthermore, on the account of countless laboratory and field experiment results, zeolites (specifically natural zeolite) extraordinary adsorption capacity, nutrients and water holding potential help to protect environment also by reduction in the use of fertilizers, irrigation water and raising agronomic production. The enhanced nutrient detention capacity of zeolites results in reduction in loss of nutrients from soil, ultimately minimizing the water pollution by leaching of nutrients. The adsorption potential of zeolites against Na + , Cl - and soil noxious metals assists to lower their uptake by plants. The addition of zeolites to soil facilitates improvements in water availability and plant growth: chlorophyll content, total proteins concentration and increased activity of antioxidant defense; eventually mitigating the harmful impacts of ecological stresses such as heat, drought or salinity. Natural zeolite, particularly clinoptilolite performs better in alleviating plant stresses such as salinity in comparison to synthetic zeolite and counterbalances adverse impacts of salt load of up to 100 mM concentration. Zeolite has been used in combination with other substances also such as compost, biochar or calcium etc. to reduce salinity. The increased amount of hydrophilic active sites in zeolites enhances their water sorption strength, restricting the formation of liquid film required for pathogens growth, eventually work as effective desiccants to protect the plants up to 100% from several pathogens. Zeolite application can be used as buffering agent to improve biomass and achieve agriculture sustainability in different stress conditions.

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