[title size=“2″]Zeolite in Agriculture[/title]
Zeolite:
- Enables better plant growth
- Improves the efficiency and value of fertiliser
- Improves water infiltration and retention
- Improves yield
- Retains nutrients for use by plants
- Improves long term soil quality
- Reduces loss of nutrients in soil
- Applying zeolite to the soil can improve its ability to hold nutrients and water
Zeolite is a natural super porous mineral (part of a group of hydrated alumino silicates). It carries a negative charge balanced by freely moving cations with positive charges. this provides an ideal trap for positive cations like nitrogen rich ammonium and potassium which are then released when demanded by plants.
Zeolites have a very open framework with a network of pores giving it a large surface area for trapping and exchanging valuable nutrients.
[title size=“3″]More efficient fertiliser use[/title]
With the current high price of ammonium fertilisers zeolite can be used to extend their efficiency and performance. Blending fertiliser with zeolite can produce the same yield from less fertiliser applied because of the reduction of volatolization and leaching losses. It is particularly suitable for banding under drip irrigation planting where it will assist water infiltration, distribution and retention. When fertigation is practiced it will actively hold the nutrients in the rootzone.
[title size=“3″]More efficient water use[/title]
Zeolite assists water infiltration and retention in the soil due to its very porous properties and the capillary suction it exerts. Acting as a natural wetting agent, it is an excellent amendment for non wetting sands and to assit water distribution through soils.