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permaculture - [permaculture] Bentonite, Sandy soils, Nutrients & Heavy metals

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  • From: "Jara" <jara@otenet.gr>
  • To: <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [permaculture] Bentonite, Sandy soils, Nutrients & Heavy metals
  • Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 08:31:31 +0300

Lisa,

Bentonite can indeed be used to retain water in sandy soils. Mix 5-10% bentonite with your sandy soil (bentonite and soil must be as dry as possible. Calcium bentonite differs from sodium bentonite in that it swells much less ie holds less water than sodium bentonite. Neither the sodium nor the calcium in the bentonite is available to the plants because it is bound. In addition Bentonite is a clay and so soil micro-organisms and bacteria cannot metabolize it so nutrients or sodium build up is not really an issue. Btw, Bentonite is also used as a detox food supplement for the above reason. Finally, on the whole heavy metal content is neglible in the source that I use - Greek and Bulgarian bentonite. I can't speak for bentonite sourced elsewhere.

Message: 4
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 15:17:13 -0500
From: "Lisa Rollens" <rollens@fidnet.com>
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Bentonite
To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <008101c694a6$85866fe0$0559e5d8@yourw92p4bhlzg>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original

Does anyone know anything about using Bentonite in garden soil to increase
the water holding capability? I have lots of SAND, and live in a droughty
area and have been thinking about Bentonite to hold water. Didn't know
there was calcium and sodium bentonite. The calcium one would probably be
the best idea, in terms of nutrients. However, when used like this would
the calcium be "used up", and the effect negated? How is the calcium held
in the bentonite and how soluble is it? Anybody have any experience???

Thanks,

Lisa, in the Ozarks of MO, USA





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