Ms Serena Doni, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy. Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19), 15 - 17 May 2019 at FAO HQ.

1. Zeolite effects on soil organic carbon and
structure against erosion in vineyards
M. Gispert1, G. Masciandaro2, E. Peruzzi2, C. Macci2, C.M.
Masini3, D. Manzi4, G. Mattii5, S. Doni2
1University of Girona,
2CNR-IRET,
3Tenuta di Poggio S. S. società agricola,
4DN360
5University of Florence
1

2. 2
7,5 mha global area under vines in 2015
Rest of the
world 50%
Spain
14%
China
11%
France
10%
Italy
9%
Turkey
7%
Share of countries in world area
surface
5 countries
represent
50% of
world
vineyard

3. AGRONOMIC PRACTICES THAT AFFECT SOIL QUALITY
IN VINEYARD SOILS
continuous working practices using heavy machinery
inappropriate tillage for eliminating competition between vines and other
plants for water and nutrients
excessive inputs of fertilizer and phytopharmaceutical products
The loss of soil determines the decline of soil fertility and sustainability in
terms of erosion, contamination, compaction and loss of biodiversity

4. EFFECT OF ZEOLITE ON SOIL FERTILITY
Zeolites have been proposed to improve
physical and chemical properties of agricultural
soils such as:
 water holding capacity,
 infiltration rate,
 saturated hydraulic conductivity,
 cation exchange capacity (high
absorption/desorption capacity for several
cations)
They are able to release nutrients
gradually for extended period of
time, making the efficiency of
fertilizers greater and the
leaching losses lower
Features of zeolites:
high surface area,
large pores or channels,
negative charges in the
structural framework,
high cation exchange
capacity.

5. OBJECTIVES
Potential of zeolite for improving vine
nutrition management in order to
reduce dependence from mineral
fertilizers in vineyard systems and
increase their fertility.

6. Vineyard variety: Trebbiano
The vineyard was divided into three plots with
zeolite at the dose:
0 t ha-1 (control),
5 t ha-1,
10 t ha-1
EXPERIMENTAL LAYOUT
Cosimo Maria Masini
Tenuta di Poggio S.S.,
San Miniato, Tuscany,
Italy.
CONTROL
5 t ha-1
10 t ha-1
Trebbiano variety one year old, not in
production yet

7. Zeolite application and integration in soil by ploughing to a depth of 30 cm

8. control 5 t ha-1 10 t ha-1
10 t ha-1
5 t ha-1
CONTROL
Sandy clay loam texture,
organic matter (OM)
content of 1.8%,
high carbonate amount
(bivalve shells were very
common), slightly
alkaline pH.

9. RESULTS
SOIL QUALITY INDICATORS
Chemical
Total and available
nutrients (Nitrogen,
Phosphorus,
Potassium)
CEC
Chemical-structural
composition of
organic matter
Physical
Texture
Aggregate stability
Soil shrinkage
Biological and
Biochemical
Soil respiration
Biological activity
Glomalin related
soil protein

10. 10
b b
a
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
%K
Total Potassium
Total nutrients
a a a
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2%
Total Organic Carbon
control
5 t ha-1
10 t ha-1
b
b a
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
%N Total N

11. 11
c
b
a
0
5
10
15
20
25cmolckg-1
C.E.C.
control
5 t ha-1
10 t ha-1
Nutrient availability
b
a a
0.00
0.01
0.01
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.03
0.04
%K
Available K
b
a
a
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
mgNH4
+kg-1
Ammonia
b
a
a
0
10
20
30
40
mgNO3
-kg-1
Nitrate

12. 12
b
ab
a
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
mgINTFkg-1h-1
Dehydrogenase activity
control
5 t ha-1
10 t ha-1
Microorganism
metabolic activity
Benzene (B) / Toluene (E3)
Benzene is derived
from condensed
aromatic structures;
toluene comes from
aromatic
uncondensed rings
with aliphatic
chains.
a
b
b
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
Humification Index
b
a a
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
Mineralization Index
Aliphatic (AL) / Aromatic (AR) compounds
Chemical
Chemical-structural
composition of organic
matter

13. 13
Physical
Aggregate stability
Soil shrinkage
a a a
0
20
40
60
80
100
%
WSA(0.25-2)
a a a
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
gGRSPkg-1
Glomalin related soil protein - GRSP
b
a
b
0
20
40
60
80
100
%
WSA(2-5.6)
5 t ha-1
CONTROL
a
b b
0
5
10
15
20
25
Area%ofsurfaceshikage
Total craks

14. CONCLUSIONS
The application of zeolite to the vineyard soils, especially at the
highest dose (10 t ha-1) improved their cations exchange capacity and
thus their ability to retain nutrients.
The increase of available N and K significantly promoted microbial
metabolic activity and utilization of soil organic matter, with the
consequent change in soil organic matter evolution.
The dose 5 t ha-1 seems to be effective in improving soil structure and
stability, thus mitigating erosion processes in vineyard soils.
Other studies about zeolite application in combination with a source
of organic matter are carrying out in the framework of the LIFE
ZEOWINE project.

15. Starting from the proven efficacy features for both compost and zeolite, the LIFE
ZEOWINE project will demonstrate the improvement of:
 soil protection and sustainability,
grape quality,
yield stability
through the development and application of an innovative by-product (ZEOWINE)
derived from composting of winery wastes and natural zeolites
LIFE17 ENV/IT/000427
Policy implications
to protect the soil and preserve its capacity to perform its ecological,
economic, social and cultural functions COM (2006) 231 Thematic
Strategy for Soil Protection
develop further actions, aimed at transferring the results achieved by
this study in other agricultural productive chains