Elaboration and Characterization of Vitreous Fertilizers and Study of Their Impact on the Growth, Photosynthesis and Yield of Wheat (<i>Triticum durum </i>L.)

• Main Authors: Tariq Labbilta, Mohamed Ait-El-Mokhtar, Younes Abouliatim, Mehdi Khouloud, Abdelilah Meddich, Mohamed Mesnaoui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: Materials
• Subjects: glass; phosphate; chemical durability; growth; yield; <i>Triticum durum</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1295

Four different phosphate glass formulations (F₀, F₁, F₂, and F₃) were developed according o wheat nutrient requirements to be used as controlled-release fertilizers. These glasses contain macro-elements (P₂O₅-K₂O-CaO-MgO), with the addition of microelements (Fe-Mn-Zn-B-Cu-Mo) in each formulation. The effects of these elements’ addition on thermal properties, glass structure, and dissolution behaviors were investigated. Results showed that these glasses are composed essentially of metaphosphate chains and that the addition of micronutrients could change the chemical durability of phosphate glasses. A greenhouse experiment was performed using wheat (<i>Triticum durum </i>L.) to evaluate the efficiency of the four glasses, with or without application of chemical nitrogen (N) (N + VF and VF, respectively). The different formulas were tested using two rates of 0.3 and 1 g per plant. In addition to the vitreous fertilizer formulations, two other treatments were applied: control treatment with no amendment and Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium treatment with the application of the conventional fertilizers on the base of optimal rates. After four months of cultivation, vitreous fertilizers application significantly improved growth (7% to 88%), photosynthetic (8% to 49%) parameters, and yield (29% to 33%) compared to NPK treatment and to the control. It has been found that formulas F₁, F₂, and F₃ may constitute a potential alternative to conventional fertilization due to their positive impact on wheat production and can be used in practice as an environmentally controlled-release fertilizer.