Agriculture

Bentonite clay application in agriculture


Horticulture

Soil amendment for gardens and horticulture

Bentonite clay as a soil improver for gardens and horticulture

  • Soils of the Swan coastal plain are poorly structured sandy soils with low levels of clay and organic matter.
  • This contributes to the poor soil structure, low fertility, poor wettability, low water holding capacity and poor nutrient retention capacity.
  • Sandy soils can be improved by the addition of clay and organic materials.
  • Watheroo Minerals bentonite clays are available as granules, which can be easily supplied to new soil, garden beds or new lawns or onto established lawns.
  • To improve the soil quality it may be necessary to add clay, rates of 1-3 % will have very beneficial effects on soil quality and plant growth and yield.
  • For most gardens it is necessary to treat only the top 20 cm of soil, which is the root zone. Recommended clay addition rates are shown in Table 1.
  • Incorporating organic matter like compost into the soil with the clay is also recommended. The combination of organic matter and clay will assist the improved structure, chemistry and biological activity of the soil.

Animal Processing

Clay treatment processes for recovery of usable fats, tallow and protein from meat processing, food processing and dairy product processing industries.

a) Removal and recovery of fats and proteins from abattoir waste waters

Removal of proteins, fats and colour from animal and food processing waters

  • The clay used has a very high binding capacity for proteins in water.
  • This means that proteins can be recovered from complex mixtures of products and reused or disposed of as appropriate.
  • Industries that treat protein rich waters include food-processing, abattoirs, rendering operations.
  • It also includes treatment of food products and beverages and wine making.
  • The protein/clay complex is easily removed from water phase, the solids containing clay and proteins can be used as feedstock ingredients, as soil conditioner or disposed or as per local regulatory requirements.
b) Removal and recovery of tallow and proteins from stickwater and other waste waters from rendering and animal by-products industries

Clay in combination with natural flocculants is able to remove fats and proteins from abattoir wastewaters.

  • Watheroo Minerals bentonite are GRAS status, so are considered suitable for inclusion in animal feeds.
  • Natural polymer and food grade additives are added to clay to enhance adsorption of fats and other valuable compounds, and to flocculate the clay
  • The recovered fats and proteins are mixed with clay and additives which means the recovered solids are suitable for inclusion in animal feeds
  • This process ensures that wastewaters are treated, and at the same time proteins and fats in waste stream are recovered.
  • These recovered products can be used in rendered products for stock feeds, or further processed to recover valuable components.
  • These gives economic values to waste materials that otherwise are disposed of to landfill. A process that has significant direct and indirect costs.

Effluent treatment

Intensive animal rearing and dairy operations can generate significant quantities of waste water heavily loaded with organic materials and dissolved nutrients

Clay based water treatment, using settlement or flocculation assisted separation, can be simple, reliable, cost effective approach to on farm water management

Clay based water treatment technology can give good management of this wastewater by:

  • Production of high solids sludge for disposal or reuse.
  • Concentrating organic material content to improve biogas or methane generation.
  • Reduction in content of dissolved nutrients and BOD

Dam sealing for water storage and aquaculture

Barrier systems
  • Lining/sealant for dams and ponds to reduce water losses through soil
  • Lining/sealant of dams and ponds to control movement of pollutants through dam substrate
  • Adsorbent liners and barriers to control movement of pollutants through soil in ground water

Damseal, is a bentonite product that when prepared properly will form a flexible, very low permeability barrier. This can be used as a waterproof base for water storage and waste containment ponds and dams.

  • The system is effective as a barrier system to restrict the movement of water and dissolved chemicals out of storage ponds or through soil profile.
  • The clay barrier system also adsorbs metals, hydrocarbons and other organic and inorganic chemicals. So clay based containment systems restrict movement of water and the movement of toxic chemicals.
  • The seal is ‘plastic’ so does not readily puncture.
  • Clay based liners or barriers systems are very effective, long lasting systems for water and wastewater and contaminant management.

Damseal with Bentonite A Damseal, our West Australian Bentonite, is a proven product particularly suited to sealing dams and ponds when applied correctly. Damseal is not only environmentally safe, but because it is 100% West Australian, it is now an extremely cost effective method of sealing water storage. Bentonite may be used in several ways depending on the soil type and whether it is practical to empty the dam. For dry dams on light or loam soils, a mixed blanket is worked into the soil, and on heavy soils, a pure blanket would be required (similar to a clay lining). Where a dam still has water, the best application method is to broadcast the Bentonite on the water surface. Rates of application for the above methods are reliant on soil structures and specific conditions within the dam. Our guidelines (links below) contain information to assist you in selecting the appropriate application for your needs. A soil engineer or Watheroo Minerals is able to provide further assistance on request.


Binder and adsorbent for stock feeds

Bentonite clays have been widely used in animal feeds and many human health and food applications and have GRAS (Generally Recognised As Safe) status. In the preparation of pelletised stock feeds bentonite has a number of well-recognised functions:

  • As a binder to maintain integrity of formulated pellets
  • As an alkaline agent to reduce acidosis in pellet fed animals
  • As an adsorbent, to adsorb and reduce the absorption of toxins into the animal. e.g. aflatoxins