Tseolit (Use of natural zeolite on sandy soils)

USE OF NATURAL ZEOLITE ON SANDY SOILS

Improvement of sandy soils is difficult in many respect due to a weak absorbing capability of the soil complex. The use of natural zeolite sorbents may become one of the main methods to improve their fertility.

The crystal structure of zeolites preconditions some peculiarities of their behavior in the soil. The structure of zeolites is pierced with a system of canals and communicating cavities.

The diameter of pores allows the mineral to absorb together with many compounds such important for agriculture substances as NH3, N2, СО2, H2O, etc. Zeolites being mixed with the soil become effective regulators of the content of some elements in the soil.

The natural zeolite we offer contains the required quantities of Ca, Mg, K and other bases which in the form of ions are arranged inside the crystal grating of the mineral. Under favorable conditions ion-exchange interactions within the soil - zeolite system may take place at once after zeolite is introduced, resulting in the reduction of the soil acidity and the increase of its biological activity.

At the same time the clinoptilolite contained in the mineral exerts positive influence on the water-holding capacity of the soil which is very important in the context of sandy soils for their fertility is increased. In the zeolite of tuffgenic sedimentary origin we offer for improving sandy soils the clinoptilolite content ranges from 70 to 90 percent.

A significant number of exchange bases: Ca, Mg, Na, K and various microelements whose quantity distinctively exceeds their content in the soil, get into the soil together with zeolite.

Thanks to the highly active sorbent and to the appearance of exchange bases in the soil solution and the solid phase absorbing functions of the soil complex made up by sandy soils are increased.

The practical introduction of clinoptilolite into the soil results in the significant accumulation of mobile and absorbed calcium; it proves that the natural mineral and the soil interact immediately.

The natural zeolite acts as an ion exchanger: cations from the clinoptilolite structure are replaced with hydrogen ions of the soil solution and of the soil solid phase.

Thus, as a result of the clinoptilolite application the content of Ca, K and Mg exchange bases in the soil absorbing complex is significantly increased as compared with the initial one.

So the increase of the calcium content in the soil complex, caused by zeolite application proves that it actively interacts not only with the soil but also with mineral fertilizers. The point in view is the exchange absorption of important-for-plant-nutrition cations introduced into the soil together with fertilizers. This property of natural zeolites is used to prevent losses of nutrient substances while they are accumulated in the soil.

Genetic resources of mineral and organic resources, being, as it is known, main carriers of of the soil absorbing capacity are extremely limited in sandy soils, and consequently limited is the capacity of the soil to absorb and retain nutritive substances.

When natural zeolite is introduced into the soil the content of an active mineral fraction having good ion-exchange properties increases, resulting .in the growth of the absorbing capacity of the fertile soil. In practice the greatest increase in cation capacity may be attained when 1 hectare of land is treated with 15 tons of zeolite. This method is rather efficient and its effect is preserved for a long time: from 5 to 7 years.

The cation exchange capacity of the soil enriched with zeolite increases at the expense of natural reserves of alkaline earth elements cations as well as due to its elective exchange capacity to absorb and retain nutritive substances from fertilizers that have been introduced into the soil. With the increase of the absorbing capacity of the soil its most important properties improve which is reflected on the growth and health of plants.