permaculture

["Lisa Rollens" <rollens@fidnet.com>]

Jara,  Thank you very much for such useable information.  I will definitely 
try it now that I have some guidance!  Lisa


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jara" <jara@otenet.gr>
To: <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 12:31 AM
Subject: [permaculture] Bentonite, Sandy soils, Nutrients & Heavy metals


> 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.