Reduction of Nitrate Leaching in Drip-irrigation System and Greenhouse Cultivation of Cucumber Using Zeolite

Nitrogen is one the most important nutrients in achieving optimal yield of crops. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of clinoptilolite zeolite on nitrate ion adsorbstion and growth indices and cucumber parameters including, number, weight, length and diameter of the cucumber. This research was conducted at greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture of Urmia University and in completely randomized design experiment with four levels including 0, 5, 10 and 15 gr zeolite per kg of sandy loam soil in three replications with drip irrigation system.The results show that zeolite has positive effect of on reducing nitrate leaching at p < 0.01 level.Comparing the averages, it showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the control treatment and 15 g zeolite per kg of soil. Also, results showed that the application of zeolite on crop yield (Multiplied by fruit number in fruit weight), number of fruits, leaf area and plant diameter was significant at p < 0.01 level and also on fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit length and plant height at p < 0.05 probability but had significant effect on leaf number. Increasing amount of zeolite cause to increase yield by 2.6 time greater than control treatment.