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Excessive uses of fertilizer can create environmental problems such as soil pollution. This problem could be reduced by amending clinoptilolite zeolite with compound fertilizers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of clinoptilolite zeolite rates in compound fertilizers (N: P: K) on maize nutrients uptake and use efficiency. The following treatments were considered and evaluated: soil alone (T1), 44.6 g 5:3:2 formulated fertilizer (12.83 g compound fertilizer + 31.77 g zeolite) (T2), 44.6 g 5:5:5 formulated fertilizer(18.24 g compound fertilizer + 26.36 g zeolite) (T3), 37.17 g 6:6:6 formulated fertilizer (18.25 g compound fertilizer + 18.92 g zeolite) (T4), 22.30 g 10:10:10 formulated fertilizer (18.24 g compound fertilizer + 4.06 g zeolite) (T5), and 14.87 g 15:15:15 commercial fertilizer (T6). Selected soil chemical properties, as well as, dry weight, nutrients concentrations, uptake and use efficiency were measured. Compound fertilizers with zeolite increased soil pH compared to soil alone (T1) and commercial fertilizer (T6). Application of compound fertilizer did no significantly affect total N and available nitrate in the soil. T6 gave better plant height and dry matter production among treatments. Nitrogen concentrations for all plant parts were similar for all treatments. T6 showed better P concentrations, uptake, and use efficiency. K concentrations in maize plant parts were significantly increased for treatments with zeolite except for roots. T5 and T6 significantly increased K uptake. T6 significantly increased N and P uptake and use efficiency, while T2 significantly increased K use efficiency. Amending N, P, and K fertilizers with higher dosage of clinoptilolite zeolite improved soil chemical properties, nutrient uptake of Masmadu variety. Compound fertilizers amended with clinoptilolite zeolite enhanced K use efficiency of Masmadu maize variety.

Adoption of new management techniques, such as clinoptilolite zeolite (CZ) utilization has attracted muchattention in the fertilizer industry. Accordingly, the aims of this study is to evaluate: if CZ, acting as an inertmaterial, when applied to the soil, might improve the selected soil properties, height, dry matter, nutrientconcentration, nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency on maize cultivation; the potential for (N:P:K) compoundfertilizer when incorporated with CZ to serve same standard as the commercial fertilizer in fertilizer industry.The effect of T1, T3 and T6 on soil total N was found to be significant, when compared with T7. Treatments withCZ on soil total P, K and available P, K differed significantly relatively to T1 and T7. The treatments T5 and T6had the highest accumulation of exchangeable NH4+ and available NO3- relatively to T1 and T7. The significanteffect of the treatments having CZ on N concentration, in uptake and use efficiency, suggests that CZincorporated with fertilizer can reduce NH3 loss, triggering the formation of NH4+ and NO3- over ammonia andincrease maize uptake. Relatively to P concentration, uptake and use efficiency, it was found that in mosttreatments having CZ, lower values were obtained, relatively to the commercial fertilizer, although T3 clearlyimproved P uptake in roots. Most of the treatments with CZ remained statistically similar in K concentration,uptake and use efficiency compared to commercial fertilizer. It may be concluded that treatments with higheramounts clinoptilolite zeolite ensured good retention of soil exchangeable cations, available P, and NO3- withinthe soil. Treatments with CZ improved N uptake and use efficiency in the maize crop tested.