What Does Bentonite Clay Do?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

Bentonite clay is a versatile material with applications ranging from soil stabilization and detoxification to animal feed supplementation and soil amendment. Its ability to improve physical properties, mitigate toxin effects, and enhance nutrient availability makes it a valuable resource in various fields, including agriculture, animal husbandry, and environmental management.

Soil Modification and Stability

Bentonite clay is widely used in soil modification to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of clay. Studies have shown that nano bentonite can significantly improve the strength and consolidation characteristics of clay, making it more stable for use in road and building construction. The consolidation coefficient of clay increases with the addition of nano bentonite, which also helps in reducing the void ratio and increasing consolidation pressure1.

Detoxification and Health Benefits

Bentonite clay is known for its detoxifying properties. It has been used to reduce the detrimental effects of aflatoxin-contaminated diets in animals. For instance, in weanling pigs, different types of clay, including bentonite, were effective in mitigating the negative impacts of aflatoxin on growth performance and serum profiles2. Similarly, in diabetic-induced rats, bentonite was found to significantly lower blood glucose levels, showcasing its potential as an alternative medication for diabetes management3.

Animal Feed Supplement

Bentonite clay is also used as a feed supplement to improve the health and productivity of livestock. In laying hens, the inclusion of calcium bentonite clay in the diet improved body weight, eggshell color, and immune response to vaccination, counteracting the adverse effects of aflatoxin B14. In white Pekin ducks, bentonite clay supplementation reduced the toxic effects of aflatoxin on production performance and oxidative stress6. Additionally, in lactating Boer goats, bentonite improved nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and milk yield7.

Soil Amendment

Bentonite clay is effective in improving soil properties when used as a soil amendment. When sewage sludge is treated with bentonite, it enhances soil pH, organic matter content, and nutrient availability, leading to increased biomass yield and nutrient uptake in plants like perennial ryegrass5. This makes bentonite a valuable component in sustainable agriculture practices.

Mycotoxin Binding

Bentonite clay acts as a sorbent for mycotoxins in animal diets, reducing their concentration in milk and improving overall feed utilization. In lactating goats, bentonite supplementation decreased the levels of aflatoxin M1 in milk, thereby ensuring safer dairy products9.

Fatty Acid Composition in Meat

In lamb diets, bentonite clay has been studied for its potential to protect polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from rumen biohydrogenation. Although the results showed only minor effects on the fatty acid composition of abomasal digesta and meat, bentonite did influence certain biohydrogenation intermediates, indicating its role in modifying fatty acid profiles10.