Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40413248›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Smart foliar fertilizer based on Zn-Alg-CaCO₃ microparticles improves Aquaponic tomato cultivation.

Davide Frassine, Roberto Braglia, Francesco Scuderi, Enrico Luigi Redi, Federica Valentini, Michela Relucenti, Irene Angela Colasanti, Camilla Zaratti, Andrea Macchia, Ivo Allegrini and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. TiOMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Davide FrassineBiology Department , Tor Vergata University of Rome , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, Rome, 00133, Italy.
Roberto BragliaBiology Department , Tor Vergata University of Rome , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, Rome, 00133, Italy. roberto.braglia@uniroma2.it.
Francesco ScuderiBiology Department , Tor Vergata University of Rome , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, Rome, 00133, Italy.
Enrico Luigi RediBiology Department , Tor Vergata University of Rome , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, Rome, 00133, Italy.
Federica ValentiniSciences and Chemical Technologies Department, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, Rome, 00133, Italy.
Michela RelucentiDepartment of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Section of Human Anatomy, Electron Microscopy Unit, University of Rome Sapienza, Via Alfonso Borelli 50, Rome, 00161, Italy.
Irene Angela ColasantiSciences and Chemical Technologies Department, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, Rome, 00133, Italy.
Camilla ZarattiSciences and Chemical Technologies Department, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, Rome, 00133, Italy.
Andrea MacchiaYOCOCU, YOuth in COnservation of CUltural Heritage, Via T. Tasso 108, Rome, 00185, Italy.
Ivo AllegriniEnvint Srl, Via Paradiso 65a, Montopoli di Sabina, Rieti, 02434, Italy.
Angelo GismondiBiology Department , Tor Vergata University of Rome , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, Rome, 00133, Italy.
Gabriele Di MarcoBiology Department , Tor Vergata University of Rome , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, Rome, 00133, Italy.
Antonella CaniniBiology Department , Tor Vergata University of Rome , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, Rome, 00133, Italy.

Funding

Ministry of University and Research, Italy PON Ricerca e Innovazione 2014-2020Regione Lazio E85F21002340002
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The increasing global demand for sustainable food production, coupled with the micronutrient limitations of aquaponic systems, calls for innovative fertilization strategies that enhance crop yield and nutritional quality while preserving environmental integrity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of zinc-functionalized calcium carbonate microparticles (Zn-Alg-CaCO₃ MPs) as a smart foliar fertilizer in aquaponics. Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Principe Borghese) were grown in a recirculating aquaponic system and treated with three concentrations of Zn-MPs (10, 50, and 250 ppm) via foliar spray, using a control group treated with water. Each treatment was applied to 15 plants under controlled greenhouse conditions. Yield parameters, antioxidant content, and nutritional quality were assessed. The 250 ppm treatment significantly increased yield per plant (+ 74.9%), number of fruits (+ 44.4%), and average fruit weight (+ 22.1%) compared to control. Antioxidant activity, phenolic, flavonoid, and lycopene content were also enhanced, particularly at the highest dose. Importantly, no increase in zinc was detected in recirculating water, highlighting the environmental safety of foliar application. These findings underscore the potential of Zn-Alg-CaCO₃ MPs as a sustainable solution for precision fertilization in aquaponic agriculture. Further molecular and environmental studies are recommended to optimize and scale this technology.

Indexed as

Calcium CarbonateFertilizersSolanum lycopersicumZincAntioxidantsFruitPlant LeavesAntioxidantsCalcium CarbonateFertilizersZincAquaponicsPrecision agricultureSmart fertilizerTomatoZn-Alg-CaCO3 MPs

Identifiers

PMID40413248
PMCPMC12103587

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.