Influence of zeolite and mineral nitrogen fertilization on agronomic performance of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

Soja (Glycine max /L./ Merrill) je enoletna zrnata stročnica. Rastlina je gospodarsko pomembna v živinoreji in za pridelavo olja in biodizla. V prehrani ljudi se uporablja predvsem kot zrnje, moka in olje. Zeolit je sedimentna kamnina vulkanskega izvora, ki ga v kmetijstvu uporabljamo zaradi njegove sposobnosti zadrževanja vode, hranil in zraka. V poljskem poskusu s sorto ES Mentor, ki je potekal na laboratorijskem polju na Biotehniški fakulteti v Ljubljani v letu 2021, smo preučevali vpliv uporabe zeolita in mineralnega dušika na razvoj in rast soje ter na njen pridelek. Za boljšo simbiotsko fiksacijo zračnega dušika je bilo seme pred setvijo inokulirano s pripravkom NS-Nitragen. Na koncu poskusa smo ugotovili, da je zeolit vplival na boljši razvoj nodulov, število stranskih vej in povečanje pridelka. Mineralni dušik pa je pripomogel k rasti rastline, številu členkov in prav tako pozitivno vplival na povečanje pridelka. Primerno razmerje med mineralnim dušikom in zeolitom ter nujna količina sta ključnega pomena za boljšo rast in povečanje pridelka soje.Soybean (Glycine max /L./ Merrill) is an annual grain legume. The crop is of economic importance for livestock and for oil and biodiesel production. In human nutrition, it is mainly used as grain, flour and oil. Zeolite is a sedimentarry rock of volcanic origin used in agriculture for its ability to absorb water and retain nutrients and air. In a field trial with the variety ES Mentor conducted in a laboratory field at the Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana in 2021, the effect of zeolite and mineral nitrogen on development, growth and yield of soybeans was studied. Seeds were inoculated before sowing to improve symbiotic fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. At the end of the experiment, we found the presence of zeolite had a positive effect on nodule development, number of lateral branches and yield. Mineral nitrogen also contributed to plant growth and nodule number, which improved sojbean growth and yield