Using Clinoptilolite Zeolite to Conserve Water in Agriculture ~ A Field Application

1. NEW MEXICO AMP ALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION By: Bridgette Quintero and Robert Romero, Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) Program Mentor: Dr. A. Salim Bawazir, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University Using Clinoptilolite Zeolite to Conserve Water in Agriculture ~ A Field Application

2. Overview • Project Description • Objective • Hypothesis • Zeolite as a Material • Location • Project Methodology • Results/Conclusion • References and Acknowledgements

3. Project Overview • Sandy Soils in Mesilla Valley • Farmers Irrigate more often • Conserve Water • Zeolite • Ratios of Zeolite and Sandy Soil • Young Pecan Trees • Soil Moisture Monitored • Figure 1 : Zeolite Structure

4. Objectives • To determine if zeolite is a good amendment to the agricultural sandy soils of Las Cruces, New Mexico in an effort to conserve water. • To determine the minimum mixed ratio of zeolite-soil mixture.

5. Hypothesis • Zeolite/soil mixture will reduce evaporation losses, reduce infiltration rate and store water in the plant root zone for longer periods than the agricultural sandy soils of Las Cruces, New Mexico

6. Zeolite as a Material • Zeolite of clinoptilolite type is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined near Winston, New Mexico and has the following characteristics: • It is a volcanogenic sedimentary mineral composed of primarily hydrated aluminosilicates Breck, D.W. (1974).- • It carries a negative charge which is balanced by freely moving cations (positive charges), • It has an open framework with a network of pores giving it a large surface area for trapping and exchanging valuable nutrients, • It is highly resistance to extreme temperatures, (thermally stable to 800 oC for certain synthetic types; Homes, 1994) • It holds nutrients in the root zone for plants to use when needed, • It has a lattice structure which makes it suitable for agricultural applications

7. Location • The experiment was setup in the field located in the Mesilla Valley, NM (32°27’N,106°53’W). • A total of sixteen young pecan trees were planted and the soil moisture in the root zone is currently being monitored. Mesilla Valley, Las Cruces

8. Project Methodology • Thirty-two 3 ft3 holes were dug 7 ½ ft apart, aligned in 4 rows of 8. Which are 30 ft apart. • Mixtures if zeolite sandy soil where added to the holes, 100% soil was added in the first row of 8 holes, 20% zeolite-80% soil added to the second row, 40%-60% added to the third row, and 100% zeolite was added to the fourth row of 8 holes.

9. Project Methodology • Drip system was installed for each row to control the irrigation of trees and holes. • Sensors were calibrated for each sample of zeolite and soil mixture in a soil’s lab • CR-1000 data logger was programmed for a decagon EC-20

10. Project Methodology • The mixtures were allowed to settle for some time before the actual monitoring of the soil moisture depletion begins. • Pecan tree that were monitored were irrigated by controlled volumes of water ( 30 gallons) weekly. • Grow tubes where added to protect the plants from frost and wildlife. • Data was collected at a rate of 1 sample per minute and averaged every 5-minutes and analyzed once a week. Figure 4: Example of grow tube

11. Results Figure 1: 100% Zeolite 100% Soil Figure2: 20% Zeolite 100% Soil Figure 3: 40% Zeolite 100% Soil

12. Conclusion • Minimum average for 100% Zeolite was roughly 23 % moisture content. • Minimum average for 40% Zeolite & 60% soil was roughly 14% moisture content. • Minimum average for 20% Zeolite & 80% soil was roughly 16% moisture content. • Minimum average for 100% Soil was roughly 12% moisture content. • The final results are pending upon further data collection during the growing season of 2009.

13. References and Acknowledgements • Breck, D.W. (1974). Zeolite Molecular Sieves, Structure, Chemistry and Use. New York, J. Wiley: 771 • Holmes, D.A. (1994). Zeolites: in Industrial Minerals and Rocks, 6th edition, D.D. Carr, Senior Editor, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, Colorado: 1129-1158 • New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation Staff, National Science Foundation (HRD #0331446), Jeanne Garland, Dr. Jacquez for the opportunity to participate in the program, Dr. A. SalimBawazir, Juan Solis, Dung Tri Tran, and other graduate students.

14. Questions