Zeolite alleviates potassium deficiency and improves lodging-related stem morphological characteristics and grain yield in rice

Zeolite is an abundant potassium (K)-rich silicate mineral that could increase K supply to plants. Potassium deficiency causes lodging problems and yield reductions in paddy fields in China. However, it is unknown whether zeolite amendments alleviate K deficiency or enhance lodging-related stem morphology characteristics in rice. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of zeolite amendment (0, 5 and 10 t ha–1) and K application (0, 30 and 60 kg ha–1) on rice grain yield, stem morphology, and K nutrient status in soil and plant tissues. In both years zeolite and K application, alone or in combination, significantly increased grain yield, mainly through increased number of panicles per plant with zeolite application and number of spikelets per panicle with K application. In the top 30 cm soil layer, zeolite amendment increased cation exchange capacity by up to 31% and available K by up to 38%. Zeolite or K application alone significantly increased stem, leaf and panicle K concentrations. Zeolite promoted K allocation to rice stems, and improved stem morphology associated with lodging index. In both years, zeolite or K application alone increased stem diameter, dry weight linear density and the breaking resistance moment by up to 7.0%, 8.3% and 16%, respectively, and decreased the stem lodging index by up to 6.7%. In summary, zeolite is an alternative source of K fertiliser and can alleviate K deficiency in paddy fields in China and elsewhere.