USE OF CHABAZITIC ZEOLITE TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF SUCCULENT PLANTS BENEFICIAL TO BEE FAUNA

Authors: Domenico Prisa, Martino Campanile

1. CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, , Council for Agricultural Research and Economics Via dei Fiori 8, 51012 Pescia, PT, Italy, 2. CAVE PIANDIRENA S.R.L in via Eschilo,190,00125, Roma

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra26235

Abstract

The increasing decline of pollinator populations highlights the need to enhance floral resource availability through sustainable agronomic practices. Succulent plants, widely used in ornamental and urban green spaces, represent a potential but underexplored nectar source for bee fauna. This study evaluated the effect of chabazitic zeolite as a soil amendment on the agronomic development and nectar production of Crassula cv. Frosty, with the aim of improving its ecological value for pollinators. A controlled pot experiment was conducted using substrates amended with chabasite zeolite at different application rates and compared with a non-amended control. Plant growth parameters, physiological indicators, substrate moisture and nutrient availability, floral traits, and nectar characteristics were monitored over the growing cycle. Zeolite-amended substrates significantly improved water retention and nutrient availability, resulting in enhanced vegetative growth, increased leaf chlorophyll content, and higher water use efficiency. Flowering intensity was significantly greater in zeolite-treated plants, accompanied by increases in nectar volume and sugar concentration. These improvements translated into higher bee visitation rates during the flowering period. The results indicate that chabasite zeolite positively influences both agronomic performance and nectar production of Crassula cv. Frosty by optimizing substrate physicochemical properties. The use of chabasite zeolite therefore represents an effective and environmentally sustainable strategy to enhance the pollination potential of ornamental succulents, contributing to the development of pollinator-friendly urban and peri-urban landscapes.

Keywords: Pollinator-Friendly Substrates; Soil Amendment; Water Use Efficiency; Urban Horticulture; Floral Resource Quality