ZEOLITE
APPLICATIONS
| Agriculture | Animals | Swimming Pool Filtration |
| Aquaculture | Water Treatment | Cat Litter |
AGRICULTURE
Applications
Production of ecological agricultural products- Production of slow release fertilizers
- Soil conditioner
- Golf course and sports field construction and maintenance
- Commercial fruit and vegetable production
- Flower and ornamental plant cultivation
- Bonsai and cactus cultivation
Zeolites are useful in agriculture because of their large porosity, their high cation exchange capacity and their selectivity for ammonium and potassium cations. They can be used both as carriers of nutrients and as a medium to free nutrients. The main use of zeolites in agriculture is, however, for nitrogen capture, storage and slow release. It has been shown that zeolites, with their specific selectivity for ammonium (NH4 +), can take up this specific cation from either farmyard manure, composts or ammonium-bearing fertilizers, thereby reducing losses of nitrogen to the environment. Ammonium-charged zeolites have also been tested successfully for their ability to increase the solubilization of phosphate minerals leading to improved phosphorus uptake and yields for sudangrass developed urea-impregnated zeolite chips, which can be used as slow release nitrogen fertilizers.
Zeolites, when used properly, can yield some impressive results in regards to faster germination times, faster growth rates, larger plants, and crop yields and reduced fertilizer and water applications. Thereby requiring less fertilizer and water to be applied. This promotes good stewardship of the land by reducing pollution brought on by fertilizers leaching to the groundwater or running off into surface water sources.
Zeolite has a high CEC that enables a greater loading of plant nutrients such as nitrogen micronutrients. The nutrients are held in the growth zone and are plant accessible but not water-soluble.
The water retention capability of Zeolite also lowers irrigation requirements. Zeolite increases the water-holding capacity of sandy soils and improve drainage in clay-rich soils. In a sand-based growing media, Zeolite has been shown to decrease NH4+ and N leaching by 75% to 88%. Zeolite prevents compaction, increases infiltration, and helps the aeration of deep root systems due to its high surface area and porosity.
Zeolite Adds Value to Manure and Compost. Zeolite has a high affinity for the ammonium ion. This is a plant usable form of nitrogen. One of only three forms of nitrogen that is plant accessible (ammonia/ammonium, nitrates and nitrites).
The introduction of zeolite with the manure, compost, or lagoon water to the soil has the added benefit of increasing water retention, holding the nitrogen and other micro-nutrients in the growth zone, providing a medium for the future capture of nitrogen, increasing the ion exchange capacity of the soil, and enhancing infiltration and aeration of the soil. Zeolite is 100% natural for organic operations and when composted with manure, it becomes a natural fertilizing system.
BENEFITS
Captures and regulates the release of nutrients (compost and fertilizer) to the soil,- Absorbs and traps toxic contaminants,
- Increases cation exchange capacity (CEC)
- Reduces fertilizer usage—in some cases, nitrogen usage reduced by 25%
- Provides available potassium (ion exchanged from the Zeolite structure)
- Increases phosphorous utilization and availability by 89%
- Provides buffering capacity by balancing soil pH,
- Reduces alkalinity effects,
- Provides an excellent platform for microbiological activity,
- Promotes alkali metal equilibrium,
- Improved root development
- Retains moisture,and Reduces water usage
- 100% natural for organic farming operations,
- Promotes germination and the sustained growth of grasses and grains.
- Cost effective
- Improves aeration of the soil and minimizes compaction