Liquid Clay Adds Fertility To Sandy Soils
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In an attempt to improve crop production in sandy soils - and even in the desert - Kristian P. Olesen, inventor and co-founder of Desert Control, researched the historically high fertility of the Nile delta. Despite being surrounded by arid lands and deserts, the Nile delta was known for reliable farming for thousands of years.
The Nile waters continuously carried minerals, nutrients, and clay particles from the East African drainage basin and slowly deposited them across the delta lands. This clay provided the soil with fertility and resilience, but during the mid-1960’s, this changed as the newly constructed Aswan Dam began to block all clay and silt minerals.
Since clay acts as a natural binder in soils with high sand content, he created a product called Liquid Natural Clay (LNC).
“LNC is produced with mobile processing units as near to targeted fields as possible,” says Ole Kristian Sivertsen, President and Group CEO of Desert Control. “As it’s a liquid nearly as thin as water, it can be directly applied using traditional irrigation methods. Once applied to sandy ground, it percolates down and forms a binding soil structure absorbing and retaining water and nutrients like a sponge.”
Sandy soil begins to behave more like clay soil in terms of soil hydraulic properties, even with very small amounts of clay added. That’s due to the nano-processing of the minerals and natural materials in the LNC process.
“LNC only consists of natural materials,” Sivertsen explains. “No chemicals or other agents are introduced to the compound. We combine various clays and natural mineral materials to create a unique match with the sandy soil. Additionally, we have a patented nanotechnology process that extracts the clay structure to its fullest potential, reducing the amount of raw material required.”
He adds the amount of clay required will vary based on the soil’s state and unique properties combined with the depth of treatment desired. They typically recommend treating to a depth of 1/2-ft. below the crop’s main root zone. After application, the LNC penetrates the ground taking approximately 7 hrs. for bindings to complete. Then it can be sown, and water and fertilizer levels reduced immediately.
Early results show water and fertilizer savings of up to 50 percent, crop yield increases of 17 to 62 percent, and a reduction in salinity.
The first U.S.-based application of LNC was done in collaboration with the University of Arizona in March/April 2022 at the Yuma Mesa Research Station with the Yuma County Cooperative Extension (U of A) as part of a 5-year study.
Desert Control has currently made LNC available for mainstream farming in the Middle East and expects it to be part of the U.S. farming industry by early 2023. They’re conducting pilots and proof of concept implementations with selected Arizona growers and farmers.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ole Kristian Sivertsen, Desert Control Americas Inc., 37860 W. Smith Enke Rd., Maricopa, Ariz. 85138 (ph 650-643-6136; usa@desertcontrol.com; www.desertcontrol.com)
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Liquid Clay Adds Fertility To Sandy Soils FERTILIZER APPLICATION In an attempt to improve crop production in sandy soils - and even in the desert - Kristian P Olesen inventor and co-founder of Desert Control researched the historically high fertility of the Nile delta Despite being surrounded by arid lands and deserts the Nile delta was known for reliable farming for thousands of years The Nile waters continuously carried minerals nutrients and clay particles from the East African drainage basin and slowly deposited them across the delta lands This clay provided the soil with fertility and resilience but during the mid-1960’s this changed as the newly constructed Aswan Dam began to block all clay and silt minerals Since clay acts as a natural binder in soils with high sand content he created a product called Liquid Natural Clay LNC “LNC is produced with mobile processing units as near to targeted fields as possible ” says Ole Kristian Sivertsen President and Group CEO of Desert Control “As it’s a liquid nearly as thin as water it can be directly applied using traditional irrigation methods Once applied to sandy ground it percolates down and forms a binding soil structure absorbing and retaining water and nutrients like a sponge ” Sandy soil begins to behave more like clay soil in terms of soil hydraulic properties even with very small amounts of clay added That’s due to the nano-processing of the minerals and natural materials in the LNC process “LNC only consists of natural materials ” Sivertsen explains “No chemicals or other agents are introduced to the compound We combine various clays and natural mineral materials to create a unique match with the sandy soil Additionally we have a patented nanotechnology process that extracts the clay structure to its fullest potential reducing the amount of raw material required ” He adds the amount of clay required will vary based on the soil’s state and unique properties combined with the depth of treatment desired They typically recommend treating to a depth of 1/2-ft below the crop’s main root zone After application the LNC penetrates the ground taking approximately 7 hrs for bindings to complete Then it can be sown and water and fertilizer levels reduced immediately Early results show water and fertilizer savings of up to 50 percent crop yield increases of 17 to 62 percent and a reduction in salinity The first U S -based application of LNC was done in collaboration with the University of Arizona in March/April 2022 at the Yuma Mesa Research Station with the Yuma County Cooperative Extension U of A as part of a 5-year study Desert Control has currently made LNC available for mainstream farming in the Middle East and expects it to be part of the U S farming industry by early 2023 They’re conducting pilots and proof of concept implementations with selected Arizona growers and farmers Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ole Kristian Sivertsen Desert Control Americas Inc 37860 W Smith Enke Rd Maricopa Ariz 85138 ph 650-643-6136; usa@desertcontrol com; www desertcontrol com
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