{"id":20856,"date":"2026-10-22T10:47:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T07:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/?p=20856"},"modified":"2026-10-22T12:02:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T09:02:12","slug":"attapulgite-or-zeolite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/en\/attapulgite-or-zeolite\/","title":{"rendered":"Attapulgite or zeolite? A comparison for crops"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"zl zlpillar\">\n  <div class=\"badges\">\n    <span class=\"badge\">\ud83c\udf3e Agriculture &amp; soil<\/span>\n    <span class=\"badge\">\u2696\ufe0f Mineral comparison<\/span>\n    <span class=\"badge\">\ud83d\udd2c Evidence-based guide<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <p class=\"lead\"><strong>Attapulgite is increasingly promoted in Greece as a soil conditioner for crops \u2014 exactly where zeolite has been used for decades. They are two Greek minerals, from Grevena and Thrace, but they work differently in the soil: one mainly holds water, the other holds water and nutrients. In this guide you will see what research shows for each one in the field, where each performs better, and how to choose by crop and soil type.<\/strong><\/p>\n  <div class=\"toc\">\n    <strong>In this article<\/strong>\n    <ul>\n      <li><a href=\"#dyo-oryktas\">Two Greek minerals<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#domiki-diafora\">The structural difference<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#nero\">Agriculture: water &amp; soil moisture<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#threptika\">Agriculture: nutrients &amp; fertilisation<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#dosi\">Dose, grain size &amp; aeration<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#pinakas-georgia\">Comparison in the field<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#epilogi\">Which one for which crop<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#zootrofes\">Feed &amp; litter in brief<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#asfaleia\">Morphology &amp; safety<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#piges\">Sources<\/a><\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sec\" id=\"dyo-oryktas\">\n    <h2>Two Greek minerals: Grevena &amp; Thrace<\/h2>\n    <p><strong>Attapulgite<\/strong> (scientifically <em>palygorskite<\/em>) was identified in 1994 in the <strong>Ventzia basin, south-east of Grevena<\/strong>. The deposits occur together with saponite and are considered among the most important in Europe, with indicative reserves of around 6 million tonnes.<\/p>\n    <p><strong>Natural zeolite<\/strong> (clinoptilolite) is mined in <strong>Thrace<\/strong>, from high-grade deposits.<\/p>\n    <p>Both are natural, non-degradable minerals that remain in the soil for years. The difference between them is not \u201cgood versus bad\u201d; it is <em>what<\/em> they hold in the soil and <em>how<\/em>.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"src-note\">\n      <strong>Sources<\/strong>\n      Orykta.gr \u2014 Ventzia deposits, reserves, properties <sup><a href=\"#p1\">[1]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 NTUA diploma thesis \u2014 characterisation of the Ventzia (Grevena) attapulgite <sup><a href=\"#p2\">[2]<\/a><\/sup>.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sec\" id=\"domiki-diafora\">\n    <h2>The structural difference: sponge or ion store<\/h2>\n    <p><strong>Attapulgite<\/strong> is a fibrous clay with <strong>needle-like crystals<\/strong> that form a loose network with a large specific surface area (about 150 m\u00b2\/g). It draws in and holds water by capillary action \u2014 it works like a <strong>sponge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n    <p><strong>Clinoptilolite<\/strong> has a <strong>rigid crystal framework<\/strong> with channels of fixed size and negatively charged sites. It also holds water in its pores, but above all it <strong>exchanges cations<\/strong>: it stores ammonium (NH\u2084\u207a) and potassium (K\u207a) and releases them gradually \u2014 it works like a <strong>nutrient store<\/strong>.<\/p>\n    <p>The measure of this difference is the cation exchange capacity (CEC):<\/p>\n    <div class=\"stats\">\n      <div class=\"stat\"><b>20\u201330<\/b><span>meq\/100g typical CEC of attapulgite (range 4\u201340)<\/span><\/div>\n      <div class=\"stat\"><b>150\u2013200<\/b><span>meq\/100g typical CEC of high-purity clinoptilolite<\/span><\/div>\n      <div class=\"stat\"><b>5\u201310\u00d7<\/b><span>more nutrient storage sites per kilo of material for zeolite<\/span><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"src-note\">\n      <strong>Sources<\/strong>\n      Gal\u00e1n \u2014 <em>Properties and Applications of Palygorskite-Sepiolite Clays<\/em>, Clay Minerals: CEC 4\u201340 (typically 20\u201330) meq\/100g, BET ~150 m\u00b2\/g <sup><a href=\"#p3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 IARC Vol. 68 \u2014 palygorskite CEC 10\u201350 meq\/100g <sup><a href=\"#p4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 Kraljevi\u0107 Paveli\u0107 et al. \u2014 <em>Frontiers in Pharmacology<\/em> (2018): structure, CEC &amp; NH\u2084\u207a selectivity of clinoptilolite <sup><a href=\"#p5\">[5]<\/a><\/sup>.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sec\" id=\"nero\">\n    <h2>Agriculture: water &amp; soil moisture<\/h2>\n    <p>Here we must be fair: <strong>attapulgite has good data on water retention<\/strong>.<\/p>\n    <h3>What research shows for attapulgite<\/h3>\n    <p>In <strong>sandy, newly reclaimed fields in north-western China<\/strong>, adding 1,500\u20136,000 kg\/ha of attapulgite powder increased maize yield by <strong>4.9\u201314.9%<\/strong> and above-ground biomass by 6.1\u201332.3%. The water-holding capacity of the sandy soil increased, nutrient retention in the top 40 cm improved and leaching to deeper layers decreased. With 20% less fertiliser and 6,000 kg\/ha of attapulgite, yield rose by a further 6.6%.<\/p>\n    <p>In an experiment on the <strong>Loess Plateau<\/strong>, doses of 20 and 40 g of attapulgite per kg of soil improved the water use efficiency of maize, mainly under drought conditions.<\/p>\n    <p>In a comparative laboratory study of soil amendments in a loamy sand, attapulgite was <strong>the best of the minerals tested<\/strong> (together with bentonite) at retaining moisture: +2.4 percentage points of water versus the control at pF 2.0. The same study also shows the scale, however: the synthetic superabsorbent polymer (SAP) held +18.8 points. Minerals improve the soil \u2014 they do not turn it into a reservoir.<\/p>\n    <h3>What research shows for zeolite<\/h3>\n    <p>For clinoptilolite, experimental data show an increase in soil water content of up to about 60% and in <strong>plant-available water of up to 110%<\/strong>, with the grain size of the material playing an important role.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"callout-info\">\n      <strong>A fair note on the comparison<\/strong>\n      These studies were carried out on different soils, doses and methods \u2014 the percentages are not directly comparable. The safe conclusion is that <strong>both minerals improve water retention<\/strong>, especially in light soils. Their real difference lies elsewhere: in nutrients.\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"src-note\">\n      <strong>Sources<\/strong>\n      Arid Land Research and Management (2023) \u2014 attapulgite in sandy fields of NW China, maize <sup><a href=\"#p6\">[6]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 PubMed 40607558 \u2014 attapulgite &amp; maize water use efficiency, Loess Plateau <sup><a href=\"#p7\">[7]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 Materials (MDPI) 2021 \u2014 comparison of soil amendments in water retention <sup><a href=\"#p9\">[9]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 Water (MDPI) 2021 \u2014 clinoptilolite, soil water content &amp; available water <sup><a href=\"#p10\">[10]<\/a><\/sup>.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sec\" id=\"threptika\">\n    <h2>Agriculture: nutrients &amp; fertilisation \u2014 where the difference is decided<\/h2>\n    <p>A significant share of nitrogen fertiliser never reaches the plant: it is washed out with water or lost as ammonia gas. The same applies to potassium in light soils. This is where cation exchange capacity makes the difference.<\/p>\n    <p><strong>Clinoptilolite has a high selectivity for ammonium and potassium<\/strong>. It binds these ions when they are in surplus \u2014 after fertilising or irrigating \u2014 and releases them gradually as the roots take them up. The fertiliser stays longer in the root zone and less of it reaches the groundwater. In composting and manure management, adding zeolite has reduced ammonia emissions by 15\u201385%, depending on the dose \u2014 the same ammonium-binding mechanism that also works in the soil.<\/p>\n    <p><strong>Attapulgite<\/strong> also reduces nutrient leaching, as the study in sandy soils showed \u2014 mainly because it keeps more water in the upper layer. With a CEC 5\u201310 times lower, however, the \u201cion store\u201d it adds to the soil per kilo of material is correspondingly smaller.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"callout-info\">\n      <strong>In one sentence<\/strong>\n      Attapulgite helps the soil hold <strong>water<\/strong>. Zeolite helps the soil hold <strong>water and fertiliser<\/strong>.\n    <\/div>\n    <figure class=\"zimg\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/attapulgite-info1-water-fertiliser.jpg\" alt=\"attapulgite or zeolite - attapulgite holds water, zeolite holds water and fertiliser\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1500\" loading=\"lazy\">\n      <figcaption>The key difference in the soil: water retention versus retention of water and nutrients (CEC).<\/figcaption>\n    <\/figure>\n    <p>In saline-alkaline soils, research on palygorskite is now moving towards composite products (e.g. with calcium and magnesium sulphates), where the mineral plays a supporting rather than a stand-alone role.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"src-note\">\n      <strong>Sources<\/strong>\n      Kraljevi\u0107 Paveli\u0107 et al. \u2014 clinoptilolite selectivity for NH\u2084\u207a &amp; K\u207a <sup><a href=\"#p5\">[5]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 Arid Land Research and Management (2023) \u2014 reduced nutrient leaching with attapulgite <sup><a href=\"#p6\">[6]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 Bioresource Technology (2022) \u2014 15\u201385% NH\u2083 reduction with zeolite in composting\/manure <sup><a href=\"#p11\">[11]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 Soil &amp; Tillage Research (2026) \u2014 sulphate-palygorskite composite for saline soils <sup><a href=\"#p12\">[12]<\/a><\/sup>.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sec\" id=\"dosi\">\n    <h2>Dose, grain size &amp; soil aeration<\/h2>\n    <p>A point that is often overlooked: <strong>more is not better<\/strong>. A recent study on attapulgite-amended soils on the Loess Plateau found that an <strong>excessive dose reduces soil air permeability and hydraulic conductivity<\/strong>, hinders water uptake by the roots and can ultimately affect yield. The researchers conclude that the right dose must be determined by region and soil type.<\/p>\n    <p>This makes sense for a fine-grained clay: in large quantities it fills the soil pores. Zeolite does not swell and, in granular form, adds stable grains to the soil structure instead of filling the gaps.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"callout-warn\">\n      <strong>\u26a0\ufe0f Zeolite grain size by soil type<\/strong>\n      In the field: <strong>heavy soils 2.5\u20135 mm<\/strong>, <strong>medium and light soils 1\u20132.5 mm<\/strong>. For trees: in light and medium soils <strong>fine gravel 0.8\u20132.5 mm or 1\u20132.5 mm<\/strong>, in heavy soils <strong>2.5\u20135 mm<\/strong>. In sandy soils and for trees we do not recommend powder: the grain stays in the root zone, maintains aeration and works for years. For the dose by crop and area, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/en\/tools\/\">dosage guide<\/a>.\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"src-note\">\n      <strong>Sources<\/strong>\n      Agronomy (MDPI) 2026 \u2014 excessive attapulgite dose: lower air permeability &amp; hydraulic conductivity, effect on yield <sup><a href=\"#p8\">[8]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 Water (MDPI) 2021 \u2014 role of clinoptilolite grain size in water retention <sup><a href=\"#p10\">[10]<\/a><\/sup>.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sec\" id=\"pinakas-georgia\">\n    <h2>Attapulgite or zeolite in the field: comparison table<\/h2>\n    <div class=\"tablewrap\">\n      <table class=\"dose\">\n        <tbody><tr><th>Criterion<\/th><th>Attapulgite<\/th><th>Zeolite (clinoptilolite)<\/th><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Water retention<\/td><td>\u2705 Documented, mainly in sandy soils<\/td><td>\u2705 Documented, with grain size playing an important role<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Nutrient storage (NH\u2084\u207a, K\u207a)<\/td><td>Limited (CEC ~20\u201330)<\/td><td>\u2705 High, selective (CEC ~150\u2013200)<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Gradual fertiliser release<\/td><td>Indirect, through water retention<\/td><td>\u2705 Direct, through ion exchange<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Lower ammonia losses<\/td><td>Small<\/td><td>\u2705 Strong<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Effect on aeration<\/td><td>Risk of reduction at high doses<\/td><td>Non-swelling granules \u2014 neutral or positive in granular form<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Persistence in soil<\/td><td>Several years (mineral)<\/td><td>Several years (mineral)<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Form of application<\/td><td>Usually powder<\/td><td>Grain 1\u20132.5 mm in light\/medium soils, 2.5\u20135 mm in heavy soils<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Greek origin<\/td><td>Grevena<\/td><td>Thrace<\/td><\/tr>\n      <\/tbody><\/table>\n    <\/div>\n    <figure class=\"zimg\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/attapulgite-info2-comparison.jpg\" alt=\"attapulgite vs zeolite - comparison table for crops\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1500\" loading=\"lazy\">\n      <figcaption>Comparison table of attapulgite and zeolite for use in crops.<\/figcaption>\n    <\/figure>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sec\" id=\"epilogi\">\n    <h2>Which one for which crop<\/h2>\n    <div class=\"tablewrap\">\n      <table class=\"dose\">\n        <tbody><tr><th>Situation<\/th><th>Recommended<\/th><th>Why<\/th><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Sandy field where water is the main constraint<\/td><td>Both have data<\/td><td>Zeolite in 1\u20132.5 mm grain also adds a nutrient store without any risk to aeration<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Intensive crops with high nitrogen fertilisation<\/td><td>Zeolite<\/td><td>Binds ammonium, fewer losses, gradual release<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Crops with high potassium needs<\/td><td>Zeolite<\/td><td>Selective retention of K\u207a<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Tree crops, new plantings<\/td><td>Zeolite in granules<\/td><td>0.8\u20132.5 \/ 1\u20132.5 mm in light-medium soils, 2.5\u20135 mm in heavy soils; water + nutrients in the root zone<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Garden, pots, nurseries<\/td><td>Zeolite<\/td><td>Balance of water and nutrients in the substrate<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Compost &amp; manure before spreading<\/td><td>Zeolite<\/td><td>Keeps nitrogen in the fertiliser instead of losing it as ammonia<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Carrier for crop protection products \/ formulations<\/td><td>Attapulgite<\/td><td>Large loading surface \u2014 one of its classic uses<\/td><\/tr>\n      <\/tbody><\/table>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"callout-info\">\n      <strong>They are not rivals<\/strong>\n      Their mechanisms are complementary. If you already use attapulgite for water retention, zeolite can be added to retain the fertiliser.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sec\" id=\"zootrofes\">\n    <h2>Feed &amp; litter in brief<\/h2>\n    <h3>Feed<\/h3>\n    <p>In the EU, any mineral added to feed must be an authorised additive under Regulation (EC) 1831\/2003. <strong>Clinoptilolite of sedimentary origin<\/strong> has a <strong>stand-alone authorisation (1g568)<\/strong> as a binder and anti-caking agent for all animal species, up to 10,000 mg\/kg of complete feed, with a positive re-evaluation by EFSA in 2025. <strong>Attapulgite has no stand-alone entry<\/strong> \u2014 it appears as an accompanying mineral in authorised additives of the sepiolite family, such as sepiolitic clay (1g563). Always ask for the registration number on the label. For binding mycotoxins, the only mineral with explicit authorisation in the EU is bentonite.<\/p>\n    <h3>Litter, poultry houses &amp; stables<\/h3>\n    <p>Attapulgite absorbs litter moisture well. Odour, however, comes mainly from the <strong>ammonium<\/strong> in urine and manure \u2014 an ion, which zeolite binds before it turns into ammonia gas. For litter where both moisture and ammonia matter, zeolite covers both. And litter with zeolite ends up in the field as a nitrogen-richer fertiliser.<\/p>\n    <p>In detail: <a href=\"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/en\/zeolite-in-livestock-farming\/\">zeolite in livestock farming<\/a>.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"src-note\">\n      <strong>Sources<\/strong>\n      EFSA (2025) \u2014 renewal of the authorisation of clinoptilolite of sedimentary origin 1g568 <sup><a href=\"#p13\">[13]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023\/263 \u2014 sepiolitic clay 1g563 <sup><a href=\"#p14\">[14]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 EFSA \u2014 opinion on sepiolite: attapulgite as an accompanying mineral <sup><a href=\"#p15\">[15]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 Bioresource Technology (2022) \u2014 ammonia reduction with zeolite <sup><a href=\"#p11\">[11]<\/a><\/sup>.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sec\" id=\"asfaleia\">\n    <h2>Morphology &amp; safety: what IARC says<\/h2>\n    <p>The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluated palygorskite in the same Volume 68 (1997) as zeolites. <strong>Long fibres (&gt;5 \u03bcm)<\/strong> were classified in <strong>Group 2B<\/strong> (possibly carcinogenic) and <strong>short fibres (&lt;5 \u03bcm)<\/strong> in <strong>Group 3<\/strong> (not classifiable). IARC notes that fibre length varies considerably from deposit to deposit. Commercial attapulgites are as a rule short-fibred \u2014 there is no cause for alarm, but there is a reason to ask for documentation.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"callout-warn\">\n      <strong>\u26a0\ufe0f Ask for documentation for every mineral<\/strong>\n      Whether you choose zeolite or attapulgite, ask for analyses of origin and morphology (XRD\/SEM). When spreading any fine mineral dust in the field, wear a dust mask.\n    <\/div>\n    <p>For zeolite, see the guide <a href=\"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/en\/is-zeolite-carcinogenic-what-does-science-actually-say\/\">\u201cIs zeolite carcinogenic?\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"src-note\">\n      <strong>Sources<\/strong>\n      IARC Monographs Vol. 68 (1997) \u2014 Palygorskite (Attapulgite) <sup><a href=\"#p4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup>\u00b7 IARC \u2014 list of classifications <sup><a href=\"#p16\">[16]<\/a><\/sup>.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sec\" id=\"faq\">\n    <h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n    <details class=\"faq\">\n      <summary>Attapulgite or zeolite for crops?<\/summary>\n      <div class=\"answer\"><p>It depends on the goal. Both minerals improve water retention in the soil. Zeolite has a 5\u201310 times higher cation exchange capacity, so it also stores ammonium and potassium from the fertiliser and releases them gradually to the roots. If the goal is water and fertiliser together, zeolite covers both.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/details>\n    <details class=\"faq\">\n      <summary>Does attapulgite increase yield?<\/summary>\n      <div class=\"answer\"><p>In sandy fields in NW China, adding 1,500\u20136,000 kg\/ha of attapulgite powder increased maize yield by 4.9\u201314.9%, mainly through better water retention. Another study showed that an excessive dose can reduce soil aeration and affect yield negatively, so the dose must be adapted to the soil.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/details>\n    <details class=\"faq\">\n      <summary>Which mineral retains fertiliser better?<\/summary>\n      <div class=\"answer\"><p>Zeolite (clinoptilolite). It has a high selectivity for ammonium and potassium and a cation exchange capacity of about 150\u2013200 meq\/100g, compared with about 20\u201330 for attapulgite. It retains nutrients when they are in surplus and releases them gradually.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/details>\n    <details class=\"faq\">\n      <summary>Should I use zeolite powder in sandy soil?<\/summary>\n      <div class=\"answer\"><p>No. In light and medium soils we recommend a 1\u20132.5 mm grain, and for trees in such soils fine gravel of 0.8\u20132.5 mm or 1\u20132.5 mm. In heavy soils, both in the field and for trees, we recommend 2.5\u20135 mm. The grain stays in the root zone and maintains soil aeration.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/details>\n    <details class=\"faq\">\n      <summary>Are attapulgite and palygorskite the same thing?<\/summary>\n      <div class=\"answer\"><p>Yes. \u201cPalygorskite\u201d is the mineralogical name and \u201cattapulgite\u201d the commercial one. In Greece it is mined in the Ventzia basin, in Grevena.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/details>\n    <details class=\"faq\">\n      <summary>Can they be used together in the field?<\/summary>\n      <div class=\"answer\"><p>Yes. Their mechanisms are complementary: attapulgite contributes mainly to water retention, and zeolite to the retention of water and nutrients through ion exchange.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/details>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"cta-box\">\n    <h3>Greek zeolite for your field<\/h3>\n    <p>Certified high-purity clinoptilolite from Thrace, with documentation of origin and morphology, in grain sizes for every soil type and crop.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"cta-buttons\">\n      <a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.zeolife.gr\/en\/\">\ud83d\uded2 See our zeolite products<\/a>\n      <a class=\"btn btn-secondary\" href=\"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/en\/tools\/\">Dosage guide \u2192<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <h2>Related articles<\/h2>\n  <div class=\"related\">\n    <a class=\"highlight\" href=\"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/en\/the-role-of-zeolite-in-tackling-drought-in-agricultural-production\/\">Zeolite &amp; drought<span>How it helps crops with little water<\/span><\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/en\/zeolite-bentonite-diatomaceous-earth-kaolin-which-mineral-for-which-job\/\">Zeolite, bentonite, diatomite or kaolin?<span>The big mineral comparison<\/span><\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/en\/zeolite-in-livestock-farming\/\">Zeolite in livestock farming<span>Feed, litter &amp; ammonia<\/span><\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/zeolife.gr\/en\/is-zeolite-carcinogenic-what-does-science-actually-say\/\">Is zeolite carcinogenic?<span>IARC &amp; morphology<\/span><\/a>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sources\" id=\"piges\">\n    <h3>\ud83d\udcda Scientific &amp; regulatory sources<\/h3>\n    <ol>\n      <li id=\"p1\">Orykta.gr \u2014 <em>Attapulgite<\/em>: deposits of the Ventzia basin, Grevena, reserves, properties (in Greek). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orykta.gr\/oryktes-protes-yles-tis-ellados\/latomika-orykta\/biomihanika-orykta\/55-attapoulgitis\">orykta.gr<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p2\">NTUA diploma thesis \u2014 <em>Attapulgite of Ventzia, Grevena<\/em> (in Greek). <a href=\"https:\/\/dspace.lib.ntua.gr\/xmlui\/bitstream\/handle\/123456789\/41319\/%CE%94.E.%20-%20%CE%93.%CE%9C.%20-%20%CE%A4%CE%95%CE%9B%CE%99%CE%9A%CE%97_14-7-15.pdf?sequence=1\">dspace.lib.ntua.gr<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p3\">Gal\u00e1n, E. \u2014 <em>Properties and Applications of Palygorskite-Sepiolite Clays<\/em>, Clay Minerals. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/249852974_Properties_and_Applications_of_Palygorskite-Sepiolite_Clays\">researchgate.net<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p4\">IARC Monographs Vol. 68 (1997) \u2014 <em>Palygorskite (Attapulgite)<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inchem.org\/documents\/iarc\/vol68\/palygor.html\">inchem.org<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK410070\/\">NCBI Bookshelf<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p5\">Kraljevi\u0107 Paveli\u0107, S. et al. (2018). <em>Critical Review on Zeolite Clinoptilolite Safety and Medical Applications<\/em>. Frontiers in Pharmacology. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/pharmacology\/articles\/10.3389\/fphar.2018.01350\/full\">frontiersin.org<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p6\"><em>Attapulgite application improves maize yield, water, and fertilizer utilization efficiency in newly cultivated sandy farmland in northwestern China<\/em>. Arid Land Research and Management 37(3), 2023. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/15324982.2023.2165461\">tandfonline.com<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p7\"><em>Effect of attapulgite addition on soil water availability of maize on Loess Plateau, China<\/em>. PubMed 40607558. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/40607558\/\">pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p8\"><em>Modified Water Retention Model for Attapulgite-Amended Soils and Its Application to Maize Yield Prediction on the Chinese Loess Plateau<\/em>. Agronomy (MDPI) 16(17):1667, 2026. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4395\/16\/17\/1667\">mdpi.com<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p9\"><em>The Assessment of Water Retention Efficiency of Different Soil Amendments in Comparison to Water Absorbing Geocomposite<\/em>. Materials (MDPI) 14(21):6658, 2021. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8587147\/\">ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p10\"><em>Effect of the Particle Size of Clinoptilolite Zeolite on Water Content and Soil Water Storage<\/em>. Water (MDPI) 13(5):607, 2021. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4441\/13\/5\/607\">mdpi.com<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p11\">Bioresource Technology (2022) \u2014 reduction of ammonia &amp; greenhouse gas emissions with zeolite addition. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0960852422007945\">sciencedirect.com<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p12\"><em>A sulfate-palygorskite composite amendment for saline-alkali soil<\/em>. Soil &amp; Tillage Research 256, 2026. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S016719872500426X\">sciencedirect.com<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p13\">EFSA FEEDAP (2025). <em>Clinoptilolite of sedimentary origin for all animal species \u2014 renewal of authorisation<\/em> (1g568). <a href=\"https:\/\/efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.2903\/j.efsa.2025.9364\">efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p14\">Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023\/263 \u2014 sepiolitic clay (1g563). <a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/eli\/reg_impl\/2023\/263\/oj\">eur-lex.europa.eu<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p15\">EFSA FEEDAP (2022). <em>Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of sepiolite<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC9019822\/\">pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov<\/a><\/li>\n      <li id=\"p16\">IARC \u2014 <em>Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/monographs.iarc.who.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/List_of_Classifications.pdf\">monographs.iarc.who.int<\/a><\/li>\n    <\/ol>\n    <p class=\"disclaimer\">This article is for information purposes and is based on published scientific and regulatory sources. Results in the field depend on soil, crop, climate and dose; for a specific application, consult an agronomist.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Attapulgite or zeolite for crops?\",\n     \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"It depends on the goal. Both minerals improve water retention in the soil. Zeolite has a 5\u201310 times higher cation exchange capacity, so it also stores ammonium and potassium from the fertiliser and releases them gradually to the roots. If the goal is water and fertiliser together, zeolite covers both.\"}},\n    {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Does attapulgite increase yield?\",\n     \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"In sandy fields in NW China, adding 1,500\u20136,000 kg\/ha of attapulgite powder increased maize yield by 4.9\u201314.9%, mainly through better water retention. Another study showed that an excessive dose can reduce soil aeration and affect yield negatively.\"}},\n    {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Which mineral retains fertiliser better?\",\n     \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Zeolite (clinoptilolite). It has a high selectivity for ammonium and potassium and a cation exchange capacity of about 150\u2013200 meq\/100g, compared with about 20\u201330 for attapulgite.\"}},\n    {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Should I use zeolite powder in sandy soil?\",\n     \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"No. In light and medium soils a 1\u20132.5 mm grain is recommended, and for trees in such soils fine gravel of 0.8\u20132.5 mm or 1\u20132.5 mm. In heavy soils, in the field and for trees, 2.5\u20135 mm is recommended.\"}},\n    {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Are attapulgite and palygorskite the same thing?\",\n     \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes. Palygorskite is the mineralogical name and attapulgite the commercial one. In Greece it is mined in the Ventzia basin, in Grevena.\"}},\n    {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can attapulgite and zeolite be used together in the field?\",\n     \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes. Attapulgite contributes mainly to water retention, and zeolite to the retention of water and nutrients through ion exchange.\"}}\n  ]\n}\n<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Attapulgite holds water; zeolite holds water and fertiliser. An evidence-based comparison of two Greek minerals for crops.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":20847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[673],"tags":[1754,1756,1757,1758,1755,1759],"class_list":["post-20856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agriculture","tag-attapulgite","tag-clinoptilolite","tag-fertilisation","tag-palygorskite","tag-soil-conditioners","tag-water-retention"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Attapulgite or zeolite for crops? 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