What is kaolin and how is it used in agriculture

August 25, 2022 23 Comments

Kaolin is one of the most widespread ecological materials used in conventional and organic agriculture for plant protection.

Also known as Chinese clay or white clay, kaolin is a natural aluminosilicate mineral found almost all over the world, while in our country it is found in Milos, Santorini, Kimolos and Mytilini.

Along with sulphur, copper, summer pulp, potassium salts and natural pyrethrum, kaolin is an approved plant protection product for organic crops and is considered a safe formulation, as it is not toxic to humans, animals or bees.

Let’s see in detail what are the properties of kaolin, in which crops it is applied and how it is used in the ecological protection of plants.

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What properties does kaolin have for plant protection?

Kaolin can be a key element in biological plant protection programs and is mainly used to protect against insects and to deal with heat.

a) Kaolin protects plants from harmful insects, as it prevents them from laying their eggs. The colloidal powder of kaolin, when sprayed on the foliar surface of the plants, creates a thin white film that acts as a repellence to the entomological enemies both for feeding and for depositing their eggs on the leaves and fruits.

b) Kaolin protects plants from intense sunlight. In hot conditions, the thin layer created by kaolin protects the leaf surface of the plants from the thermal stress of the hot summer months and at the same time the fruits from severe sunburns that degrade their quality.

Protection of plants from heat and heat

What crops is kaolin used in?

Kaolin is used in a number of crops to protect against the intense sun rays during the summer season.

In addition, kaolin offers significant protection against insect infestations in tree crops:

1. Kaolin in olive cultivation

Kaolin is used to treat the scab that destroys the fruits and has always been the biggest problem in olive cultivation.

Treatment of the olive pit

2. Kaolin in the cultivation of the vine

Kaolin is used to treat the thrips that causes damage to the leaves, flowers and young shoots of the vine.

Dealing with thrips in the garden

3. Kaolin in pear cultivation

Kaolin is used to deal with the pear flea, which feeds on the juices of flowers and leaves, causing serious damage and favoring the development of fungal diseases.

4. Kaolin in peach and apricot cultivation

Kaolin is used to treat thrips that cause damage to apricot and peach blossoms and fruits with nectarine varieties being more susceptible to infestation.

5. Kaolin in pomegranate cultivation

Kaolin is used to deal with aphids that cause deformations in the young shoots and leaves of the pomegranate, while they create honeydew secretions that favor the growth of the tobacco fungus.

Aphids, 5 ways to deal with meligra

6. Kaolin in walnut cultivation

Kaolin is used to deal with the fruit pit that causes great damage to walnut trees with a significant loss of production.

7. Kaolin in cherry cultivation

Kaolin is used to combat aphids and the cherry fly that destroys the fruit and is the most important enemy for cherries.

How is kaolin sprayed on crops?

For all fruit tree crops, kaolin is dissolved in water and applied by spraying the foliage and fruits at a dosage of 3 kg per 100 liters of water, except for the pear crop where the ratio is 5 kg per 100 liters of water.

After the foliar spraying of the plants with the ecological formulation of kaolin, we can immediately harvest the leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits of the plants that we have sprayed. After we do a good wash, they are ready to eat.

According to the instructions of the formulation, kaolin is not combined with other plant protection products such as insecticides, fungicides and foliar fertilizers.

As with all plant protection products, it is necessary to follow the instructions on the label of the preparation regarding dosage and use, as well as to consult the competent agronomist for the correct application of the product.

We can get kaolin preparations from agricultural stores.

And a secret about the uses of kaolin

Kaolin, apart from agriculture, has wide use in several productive activities in industry such as in the manufacture of porcelain, ceramics, paper, tires, paints, cement and many other materials.

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