Clinoptilolite zeolite foliar application on rainfed olive trees: effects on physiology, biochemistry, growth, yield and olive oil quality
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abstract
This research was funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal)
and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financiai support to ClTAB (UIDB/04033/2020), and the
Operational Group "Novas práticas em olivais de sequeiro: estratégias de mitigação e adaptação às
alterações climáticas" I funded by PT2020 and EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development).
Sandra Martins acknowledges the financiai support provided by the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for
Science and Technology (PD/BD/135327/2017), under the Doctoral programme "Agricultural Production
Chains-from fork to farm".
With the advances of climate change, it is expected harmful consequences to olive tree
(Olea europaea L.). Therefore, it is necessary to develop cost-effective practices to reduce the
vulnerability of olive crops to the adverse impacts of environmental stresses. Rainfed olive trees
were sprayed with zeolites, natural crystalline aluminosilicates, and its effects on photosynthetic
activity, phenolic composition, antioxidant activity, leaf minerais concentrations, plant growth,
yield, and olive oil quality were assessed. Zeolites application enhanced photosynthetic activity,
as well the concentrations of N, Mg, Cu, Zn and Mn in leaves, and changed the secondary
metabolism, with decrease oftotal phenols, ortho-diphenols and total antioxidant activity, signs
of lower oxidative stress. As consequence, zeolites boosted plant growth, crop yield, and size
and weight of fruits. The foliar spray did not significantly affect the oil quality indices free acidity,
peroxide value and Km and K270 coefficients. This study strongly suggests that folial' zeolites
might be an effective strategy to mitigate the adverse environmental conditions.
