ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Characterization and Suitability
of Mexican Rocks as Natural Fertilizers
for Preharvest Tomato Plant Growth
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1
Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Cerro Blanco No. 141, Colinas del Cimatario,
C.P. 76090, Querétaro, Querétaro, México
2
Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (UAEH), ICBI. Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo
Km 4.5 Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, México
3
UnADM, Av. Universidad 1200. Piso 1 Cuadrante 1-21. Col. Xoco, Alcaldía Benito Juárez,
CP 03330. Ciudad de México
Submission date: 2023-11-07
Final revision date: 2024-02-18
Acceptance date: 2024-04-18
Online publication date: 2024-09-04
Corresponding author
Felipe Legorreta-García
Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (UAEH), ICBI. Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo
Km 4.5 Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, México
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ABSTRACT
In this study, the characterization of phosphate rock and natural zeolite, both from Mexico, was
carried out and were applied as natural fertilizer. Through X-ray fluorescence (XRF), the chemical
composition of the rocks was determined. The minerals detected using X-ray diffraction (XRD)
in the natural zeolite and phosphoric rock were mainly clinoptilolite-heulandite and fluorapatite,
respectively, and their presence was confirmed by Infrared spectroscopy studies (FTIR). Through
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a significant amount of euhedral crystals of tabular
and orthorhombic habit were observed in the natural zeolite and hexagonal crystals in the phosphate
rock. Phosphate rock, zeolite, and zeolite exchanged with ammonium ions were used to evaluate their
potential application in the pre-harvest stage of Solanum lycopersicum Pai Pai® variety. The plants were
grown in the soil inside a greenhouse with zenith ventilation. Afterward, phenological development
was studied for 12 weeks. The results were compared with those obtained in a conventional nutritional
fertigation system. In conclusion, the proposed system allows a healthy growth similar to that obtained
in the conventional fertigation system, confirming viability for its use in the pre-harvest stage
of Solanum lycopersicum.