Diatomaceous Earth and Attapulgite Clay Raw Ore for Soil Amendment: Meeting the Needs of Australian Agriculture, Horticulture, Turf, and Poultry

Australia’s agricultural and horticultural sectors face increasing challenges from rising temperatures, frequent heatwaves exceeding 35–40 °C, and drought-prone conditions. These stresses accelerate soil moisture loss, nutrient leaching, and soil degradation, making effective soil amendments essential to maintain productivity, sustainability, and resilience.

Diatomaceous earth (diatomite / DE) and attapulgite clay raw ore, sourced locally in Western Australia, offer minerals that improve water retention, nutrient availability, and soil structure. Understanding which sectors require these amendments and how to apply them helps Australian growers make informed soil management decisions.

Diatomaceous earth and attapulgite clay raw ore improve Australian soils by enhancing moisture retention, nutrient availability, and soil structure for agriculture, horticulture, turf, and poultry applications

Which Australian Sectors Require Soil Amendment?

Broadacre Agriculture

• Crops: Wheat, barley, canola, pulses

• Challenges: Sandy soils in Western Australia and South Australia often have low nutrient retention and poor water-holding capacity, leading to reduced crop resilience during heat and drought periods

• Mineral benefits:

  • Attapulgite clay: Improves cation exchange capacity, reduces nutrient leaching, enhances soil structure

  • Diatomaceous earth: Supplies silica, enhances moisture retention, supports root development

Horticulture and Fruit Production

• Crops: Vegetables, orchards, berries, vineyards

• Challenges: Intensive irrigation systems and sandy soils risk nutrient loss; high-value crops are sensitive to heat stress

• Mineral benefits:

  • DE: Improves water availability and silica content for stress tolerance

  • Attapulgite: Retains nutrients in the root zone, reducing fertiliser input requirements

Turf and Landscaping

• Applications: Sports fields, golf courses, parks, commercial landscapes

• Challenges: Turf exposed to high temperatures and heavy use suffers from rapid water loss and compaction

• Mineral benefits:

  • DE: Maintains moisture and silica content for stress resistance

  • Attapulgite: Enhances soil structure and aeration, supporting healthy turf growth

Poultry and Animal Husbandry

• Applications: Chicken, poultry, and livestock housing

• Challenges: Odour control, bedding management, and soil hygiene

• Mineral benefits:

  • Diatomaceous earth (diatomite / DE) and attapulgite clay: Adsorb moisture and odours in bedding, while blended formulations also improve nutrient retention if applied to surrounding soil

How Diatomaceous Earth (diatomite / DE) and Attapulgite Work in Soil

Diatomaceous Earth (diatomite / DE):

• Porous, silica-rich mineral

• Improves water-holding capacity in sandy soils

• Reduces nutrient leaching and strengthens plant cell walls

• Supports heat and drought stress resilience

Attapulgite Clay (Palygorskite):

• Fibrous clay with high cation exchange capacity

• Retains nutrients and reduces fertiliser loss

• Improves soil aggregation, aeration, and long-term moisture retention

Application Strategies

Using Separately:

• Diatomaceous earth (diatomite / DE): Apply 250 kg–2 t per hectare in broadacre or turf; incorporate into topsoil for garden beds or potted plants

• Attapulgite: Add ~10% by volume in soil mixes; incorporate during cultivation for agriculture or landscaping

Using Blended:

• Blends combine moisture retention, nutrient holding, and structural improvements

• A commonly referenced ratio is 4 parts attapulgite to 1 part DE

• Apply evenly to top 10–20 cm of soil; combine with organic matter for best results

Practical Notes:

• Sandy soils benefit most from attapulgite for nutrient retention

• Diatomaceous earth (diatomite / DE) is particularly effective in mitigating heat and drought stress

• Blended amendments are useful for multi-purpose applications, including soil conditioning and odour management in poultry systems

Accessing Processed Australian Diatomaceous earth (diatomite / DE) and Attapulgite Products

Growers, landscapers, and farm managers looking to source processed Australian Diatomaceous earth (diatomite / DE) or attapulgite clay for soil amendment can contact suppliers through Hudson Resources. They can connect you with companies that provide products in practical formats, such as:

• 10 L tubs for gardens, small horticultural plots, or poultry bedding

• Bulk mineral supply for broadacre, turf, or commercial horticulture

• Blended mineral formulations for combined moisture retention, nutrient holding, and odour management

For more information or to be put in touch with suppliers, contact Hudson Resources at:

Email: hudsonresources@hpgl.com.au

This ensures you can access locally processed, Australian minerals suitable for a wide range of Australian agricultural, horticultural, turf, and livestock applications.

Conclusion

Diatomaceous earth (diatomite / DE) and attapulgite clay raw ore provide versatile solutions to meet the growing soil amendment needs of Australia’s agriculture, horticulture, turf, and poultry sectors. By improving moisture retention, nutrient availability, and soil structure, these minerals support sustainable productivity under increasingly hot and dry conditions.

Proper application—whether separately or blended—ensures that soils remain resilient, crops and turf thrive, and animal husbandry operations maintain hygiene and odour control. Accessing processed Australian minerals through suppliers connected by Hudson Resources allows growers to implement effective, locally sourced soil amendment solutions.

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