Clinoptilolite has been successfully used in growing media for containerized horticultural and floricultural
production. However, limited data exist on the effects and interaction between particle size and organic nutrient
enrichment of the clinoptilolite. One granular (1-3 mm) and micronized (< 30 µm) clinoptilolite was added
to quartz sand, an inert growing substrate, at two doses (0.1% and 3% v/v), without or with addition of wine vinasse as nutrient source at four concentrations (0 mgF×Lsubst-1, 10 mgF×Lsubst-1, 100 mgF×Lsubst-1 and 1000 mgF×Lsubst-1) to evaluate their effect on root growth for five days or the appearance of the second true leaf.
Root mucigel was produced in zones where clinoptilolite particles adhered to the root surface. Microscopic
analysis of isolated roots showed the increase of secondary roots and the proliferation of root hairs in maize
treated with both micronized and granular clinoptilolite, with the contemporary production of root mucigel in zones
where zeolite particles adhered to the root surface. It is hypothesized that the enhanced production of mucigel by
root cells can favour not only the penetration of roots into the inert substrate, but also the solubilization of
organic matter and nutrient availability, in particular when micronized clinoptilolite was present in the growing
medium. Therefore, micronized clinoptilolite behaved as a sort of a “physical stimulant” for roots
during seedlings, promoting, as a consequence, maize shoot development. Effectively, the highest increase in shoot
growth was observed at the highest dose (3% v/v) of micronized zeolite, with the optimal rate of organic
fertilizer (100 mgF×Lsubst-1).
Advances in Polynomial Continuation for Solving Problems in Kinematics