Zeolite is a compound hydrated alumino silicate hydrate of alkali metal and alkaline earth with general formula LM Sig O2nH2O ALX (L = Metal). Zeolite is a common trait is a bit of crystal white soft brown or bluish. Weight ranged between 2-2,4 type. Zeolite crystals concrete in three-dimensional structures that have cavities are connected to each Another channel formed in all directions with the channel size is influenced by the midline alkali metal or alkaline earth contained in the structure. In the channel filled by water called the water crystals.
Water crystals are easily removed by doing heating, easy exchange of ions of alkali metal or alkaline earth elements another. These processes affect the formation of zeolite terseubt wide variations in the spread of zeolite formed and the ions varied elements and alkaline earth alkaline that bound (forming zeolite species). Zeolite has hygroscopic properties, high surface area, CEC (Capacity Cation exchange) and the power adsorpi-desorpsi. However, natural Zeolite is naturally has some weaknesses, among others, the existence of impurities, varying pore size and the existence of amorphous structure.
The uniqueness of the structure and constituent components Zeolite, Zeolite has led to properties that are unique. The increase is in the nature of the activated zeolite maximize it. In the world of agriculture, the use of zeolite in Indonesia is still limited, because not all Indonesian agricultural society to realize the benefits of a soil improvement material. One of the chemical properties of the zeolite is its ability to bind a high cation. In science land called CEC (cation exchange capacity)
CEC value is a parameter level of a type of soil fertility. So when the zeolite is activation of processed and given to the agricultural land will increase the value of the soil CEC and improve soil fertility. This CEC value will determine the soil’s ability to binding (preserve) fertilizer provided. Such as land cultivated with urea.
Urea in the soil to form ammonium ion (NH4 +), these ions if not bound by the soil (zeolite) will be wasted through irrigation water. Thus the nutrient provided by fertilizing will be more efficient when given zeolite agricultural land. Zeolite is not only preserve the element of N alone, but also K, Ca and Mg.
The ever increasing need for chemical fertilizers such as Urea, KCL, and SP36 that at this moment difficult to be bought by the public for use in improving the farm, whereas in the implementation of fertilization is only about 50% of fertilizer that can be absorbed by plants, whereas others degraded or washed away by ground water, so fertilization is not efficient which will also pollute the environment with the content of N, S and P.
Zeolite is used as “soil conditioning” that can control and raise the pH of the soil and soil moisture. Adding zeolite to manure it will also improve nitrifikasi process. In addition to “slow-release fertiliser”, zeolite is also used for the carrier pesticides / herbicides and fungicides.
But no doubt the addition of zeolite to the fertilizer zeolite accumulation will occur on agricultural land. Zeolite addition of this amount will depend on local soil types. For Arid and semi-land desert, the use of zeolite as a mixture fertilizer may need to be reduced.
Zeolite as a soil decay needed to maintain stable soil conditions, reducing excess chemical fertilizers because it is able to release and control of plant nutrients required by plants is slowly which in turn can save money production, such as the use of fertilizers and soil processing operating costs, in addition to plant productivity optimum.
In the field of animal husbandry, zeolite is also used as “food supplements” to the ruminant livestock and non-ruminants each with dossi2.5-5% of the ratio of feed per day which can be improve both productivity of milk, meat, and eggs, the growth rate and improve the condition stable environment of the unpleasant odor.
In the case of marine fauna, zeolite acts as pH controller and absorbing water and NH3NO3-H2S, filter water into the pond, the controller contents alkali, oxygen and the improvement of basic land pond through the absorption of heavy metals Pb, Fe, Hg, Sn, Bi, and As. Ion absorption selectivity is very important given the complexity of the composition determined chemically treated water to the zeolite both in its use in agriculture and environment.
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