Karen Viviana Amorocho defended her master’s thesis on nanozeolites applied to Ray Grass, achieving improvements in biomass production and nitrogen absorption efficiency.
Engineer Karen Viviana Amorocho Cubides, a Master's student in Engineering at the Industrial University of Santander, defended her research thesis entitled "Production of Nanozeolites by High-Energy Milling for Their Evaluation in Biomass Production and Nitrogen Absorption in Ray Grass Crops." This work was carried out within the framework of the project “Nanofertilizers in Soil and Nitrous Oxide Emissions,” funded by FONTAGRO.
Under the guidance of researchers Dr. Mónica Andrea Botero Londoño and Dr. Julián Mauricio Botero Londoño, the student proposed a nano-structuring process of natural zeolites through high-energy milling, aiming to enhance their properties as smart fertilizers. This technique significantly reduced particle size, resulting in increased specific surface area, greater availability of active sites, and improved cation exchange capacity.
The nanozeolites produced were applied under controlled conditions to Ray Grass (Lolium spp.) crops, and their performance was compared with that of conventional fertilizers. The results were conclusive:
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Up to 41.2% increase in biomass production
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47.16% improvement in nitrogen absorption efficiency
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Higher protein and mineral content in the resulting forage
The research demonstrated not only agronomic benefits but also environmental and economic advantages. By enabling controlled nutrient release, nanozeolites may reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers, decreasing leaching losses and nitrous oxide emissions.
This thesis stands out as a key contribution to the development of more sustainable, efficient, and scalable nanofertilizers, with potential applications at pilot and field levels. The defense was well received by the academic committee and highlights the positive impact of advanced training processes linked to regional research projects.
