JORDANIAN ZEOLITIC TUFF AS A RAW MATERIAL FOR THE PREPARATION OF SUBSTRATES USED FOR PLANT GROWTH

Abstract

One of the problems faced in front of industry for potting media is limited amount of quality row materials (mainly peat) for unlimited production of quality substrates in the future. The using of natural minerals for production of substrates or as amendments for existing substrates is possible solution for this problem. The natural zeolites with their specific properties – high CEC, high content of macro and microelements are one of good alternatives to the traditional potting media. Each zeolite deposit has unique chemical composition, physical and mechanical properties. That is why obligatory preliminary condition for their successful application in agriculture is caring out of biological study with agricultural plants for determination of the optimal parameters of chemical and physicochemical properties of the substrates.

Keywords

• zeolite substrate
• vegetable seedlings
• macro elements