Zeolite enhances phosphorus accumulation, translocation, and partitioning in rice under alternate wetting and drying

Zeolite can increase fertilizer use efficiency in rice production. Zeolite’s positive effect on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) utilization has been validated in lowland paddy fields, but little information is available on its effect on P accumulation, translocation, and partitioning in lowland rice, especially under water stress. We conducted a two-year field experiment to evaluate the effect of zeolite and irrigations on soil P availability, dry matter accumulation, and P accumulation, partitioning, and translocation. Regardless of irrigation, zeolite application accumulated greater dry matter (DM) across growth stages than the non-zeolite control (Z0). A zeolite application rate of 10 t ha−1 (Z10) increased soil available P, plant P accumulation, stem and leaf P translocation, and panicle P partitioning across growth stages compared to Z0. Z10 increased grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and economic benefit by 21.4%, 35.5%, and 20.9%, respectively, compared to Z0. For the irrigation treatments, alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWD) increased DM and shoot P accumulation at all stages (except DM at tillering and shoot P accumulation at tillering and yellow ripening) relative to continuous flooding (CF). AWD produced similar grain yields but higher WUE than CF. Significant correlations between grain yield, shoot P accumulation, and soil available P indicated that zeolite enhanced grain yield by improving soil P availability and plant P uptake. These results showed that 10 t ha−1 zeolite combined with AWD irrigation achieved the highest soil available P, plant P accumulation, grain yield, WUE, and economic benefit, and could be an alternative management option for improving fertilizer P utilization, increasing rice production, and enhancing farmer profits in water-deficient regions.