 |
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Comments by: James I. Sprague, Nutrition and Animal Science Consultant Bentonite, a Valuable Material for Feedlots Of all the little things that makes for success, a good tool or the proper material is important for any job. Bentonite clay is a valuable material for sealing ponds, manure containment areas, sealing around buildings, sealing around water wells, and many more jobs. The following comments are from a paper prepared by Mark Hegman of the American Colloid Company. The trade name for their bentonite, is Volclay Bentonite. Expansive Clays Expansive clays really work well as a sealant. The Volclay product is reported to expand 12 times its size when it comes in contact with water. There are many clays that have expansive properties. The commercial bentonite products on the market are dried and then ground to either powder or sold as granular material. The granular products work very well because of their handling properties and lack of dust. Expansive clays are a problem in many parts of the world for construction work. Here in Newton Kansas, where I now live, we have a native clay that gives us problems around many of the buildings. If a basement is not constructed properly, and if the expansive clay around a wall becomes wet, it can expand and push in the wall. This native clay and many native clay deposits can be used to seal ponds. Yet, these clays harvested and processed as sealants work very well to control seepage from ponds and seepage into structures. Sealing Ponds and Manure Containment Areas There are two methods for sealing a pond or manure containment area: the mixed blanket method, and the sprinkle method. Sealing with a Mixed Blanket Method Mr. Hegman has some practical suggestions for treating an area for sealing with their product. He suggests to drain the area if it is not a dry area, then remove vegetable material and rocks. He then suggests filling large cracks and holes with a mixture of bentonite and earth mixture, made up of one part bentonite and five parts soil. Then plow or disc the area to depth a of four to six inches. If the soil is wet, let it dry before the bentonite is applied. If the water is not going to be over six feet deep, use 100 pounds per 100 square feet. This is easy to remember, a 10 by 10 foot area needs 100 pounds of bentonite. Spread the clay evenly and mix in the top two inches of the native soil. Rolling or tamping will be needed according to Hegman to get the compaction needed. Different soils will need more or less material and compacting to achieve the goal to prevent seepage. Caution: if preparing a new structure that requires local or state inspections, contact the government agency and submit your plans and the material that you will use. "Dirt contractors" can help with the details and plans. The Sprinkle Method for Areas with Water Coarse particles of bentonite, the granular type, can be scattered on the surface of the water of a pond. The coarse particles sink to the bottom and form a gel. The gel is then, according to Hegman, "drawn into the leaky seams, closing them up. The gel formed at the bottom remains in a tenacious layer, if not disturbed by mild currents." Hegman says that the sprinkle method can eliminate seepage, and "average reduction of seepage with this method is 75-80 percent." Sources of Bentonite Bentonite can be obtained from well drilling contractors and also from feed manufacturers. Feed manufacturers use bentonite as a pellet binder. Comments or questions on this article can be directed to Dr. Jim Sprague, 625 Grandview, Newton, KS 67114 or (316) 283-8692. © |
||||
|
|
||||
|
||||
|
All information is copywrited by Feed Lot magazine and cannot be printed or re-printed without the publishers express consent. Please contact Feed Lot Magazine for reprint and copy authorization. | ||||