The Effect of NH4+ -Zeolite on Growth Characteristics of Wheat and Water Use Efficiency in Two Soil Textures

To evaluate the effect of two types of soil textures and zeolite enriched with ammonium on growth characteristics of wheat and water use efficiency، a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications in greenhouse condition was conducted at Shaid Chamran University in the autumn of 2011. Treatments were 5% and 10% of the raw zeolite، 5% and 10% zeolite enriched with ammonium، fertilizer treatment (100 kg ha-1) and soil textures were clay loam and sandy loam. The results showed that the soil texture significantly affected the growth characteristics of wheat and water use efficiency (P<0. 01). The plant nitrogen percentage، 1000-seed weight and seed yield were higher in sandy loam soil than in clay loam. Water use efficiency in sandy loam، was more than clay loam. None of the zeolite treatments had a significant effect on water use efficiency. The highest percentage of plant nitrogen fertilizer plants treated with ammonium-rich zeolite and 10%، respectively. The highest percentage of plant nitrogen was observed in chemical fertilizer treatment and 10% NH4+-zeolite and the highest seed yield was obtained in 10% NH4+-zeolite treatment. The highest C/N ratio was measured in treated with 10% raw zeolite in a sandy loam soil. Therefore، the application of ammonium zeolite enriched can be improved wheat growth characteristics and using less chemical fertilizer and thereby also saving on fertilizers helped to reduce environmental pollution.