IMPORTANT NOTE:

There are actually two kinds of diatomaceous earth to be found on the market. The kind that you DO NOT WANT FOR FOOD USE is the type sold by swimming pool suppliers as a filtering agent. This has been subjected to a heat treatment  that dramatically increases it's crystalline silicate content and makes it unsuitable for use with foodstuffs. The other type has not been heat treated and has a crystalline silica content of  no more than 1% - 1.5%. Diatomaceous Earth is a natural grade diatomite and requires no warning label on the bag or container.        However, the continual breathing of any dust should be absolutely avoided.

Diatomaceous Earth is effective against: Ants, Aphids, Bollworm, Red Mite, Ticks, Fleas, Cockroaches, Clothes Moth, Corn Worm, Earwig, House Fly, Fruit Fly, Lead Perforator, Greenfly, Leaf Hopper, Lygus Bug, Mite, Black Fly, Salt Marsh Caterpillar, Pink Boll Weevil, Red Spider Mite, Box Elder Bugs, Carpet Beetles, Centipedes, Millipedes, Silverfish, Slugs, Snails and other insects.

It can be expected that most insects will die from contact with Diatomaceous Earth within a few days.

Diatomaceous Earth can also have a very good long term residual effect, i.e. when applied to cracks and crevices. This long term protection and control of insects can be achieved due to Diatomaceous Earth controlling parasites  by physical means, not chemical, and therefore denying them the ability to build up a resistance to it in future generations.

Effectiveness will be reduced if the Diatomaceous Earth is exposed to a high
relative humidity of 75% or above as the diatom shells will take in moisture.

Parasite Control in Poultry

                                                                                                                Diatom Powder can control red mite in poultry houses when  thoroughly applied to walls, floors, ceilings, perches, nest boxes         and cages at 10-15g per square metre.

A 2kg tub of S.P.R  Diatom Powder treats 1,800 square feet.

A 500g S.P.R Diatom Powder 'Shaker' treats 450 square feet.

Diatom Powder is odourless and non-toxic.

Indoor and Outdoor Application

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Sprinkle a light layer of Diatom Powder in areas where pests frequent, including under cookers, cabinets, sinks,
dustbins, window and door frames and sills, entrance ways, sewer pipes and drains, and in cracks and crevices.
Repeat treatment as needed.

For Carpet Beetles
Thoroughly dust along skirting boards, carpet edges, under furniture, carpet and rugs and in closets and shelving.

For Fleas
Thoroughly dust carpets, pet's bedding and sleeping areas, as well as cracks and skirting boards.
It can also be rubbed into your pets fur.

For Flies
Thoroughly dust areas where flies frequent (walls, straw bedding, livestock pens).

Slugs and Snails
To use, simply sprinkle around flowers and vegetable gardens.

Diatomaceous Earth has been used for at least two decades as a natural wormer for livestock.

For effective use, Diatom must be fed long enough to catch all the newly hatching
eggs or cycling of the worms through the lungs and back to the stomach.

A minimum of 60 days is suggested at 2% dry weight of the grain ration.

Diatomaceous Earth can also be applied to livestock's coats as an insect repellent/contact insecticide.
Both internal and external parasite control will result in improved health, appearance and behaviour,
as well as assimilation of feed, which means improved weight gain and lower feed costs.

Diatomaceous Earth is also used as an animal feed additive for cows, calves, horses, sheep,
goats, pigs, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, ducks, dogs, cats, pigeons and other pet or farm animals.

If you began feeding Diatomaceous Earth to your poultry or livestock and noticed a gain in production, what could the gain be attributed to? The obvious answer would be that the Diatomaceous Earth reduced the parasite population resulting in decreased stress on the animal and increased food assimilation.

But what about the 'mineral' content of Diatom?

Diatomaceous Earth provides a broad spectrum of naturally occurring chelated minerals.                                  These include potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, sodium, titanium and others.                        Numerous accounts of gain have been reported when adding Diatom to a ration. With the lack of mineralization  in modern grains, it isn't hard to conceive of mineral benefits from a finely ground natural mineral product. Feeding at 2% of grain ration can take care of both de-worming and mineralization. Most livestock will acquire     a 'taste' for the mineral if a small amount is mixed in with other feed.

After acquiring a taste for Diatom, they may take it free-choice.

Diatomaceous Earth is a natural (not calcined or flux calcined) compound with many elements which include:

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - 83.7%,    Aluminium Oxide (A12O3) - 5.6%,    Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) - 2.3%
Calcium Oxide (CaO) - 0.4%,     Magnesium Oxide (MgO) - 0.3%,     Other Oxides - 1.9%.

Analysis of Other Elements:

Copper - 2ppm,    Strontium - 100ppm,    Titanium - 1800ppm,    Manganese - 200ppm.
Sodium - 2000ppm,    Vanadium - 500ppm,    Boron - 50ppm,    Zirconium - 220ppm.

Diatomaceous Earth has a unique combination of physical properties:

High Porosity
Up to 85% of the volume of Diatom Powder is made up of tiny interconnected pores.
It is quite literally more air than Diatom.

High Absorption
Diatom can generally absorb up to 1 times its own weight in liquid and still exhibit the properties of a dry powder.

High Surface Area/Particle Structure
Diatom particles are characterised by their very irregular shapes, generally spiny structures and pitted surface area. They average only 5 to 20 microns in diameter, yet have a surface area several times greater than any other mineral with the same particle size. Diatomaceous Earth increases bulk without adding very much weight.              These features it is believed, are what make it an ideal mineral for internal parasite control in animals.

A selection of planktonic diatoms.

Fly control is a major predicament with livestock operations.
To reduce this problem Diatom Powder can be placed in tightly woven Hessian bags and hung in doorways.
Livestock will be attracted to it and work the bag until their heads are covered with the powder.

This will then repel flies.

Mixing Diatom with things that flies are attracted to around the farm may also
cause them to ingest the Diatom Powder in their attempts to eat the attractant.

Absorption and deodorization are natural features of Diatomaceous Earth.
These functions will continue to happen as undigested Diatomaceous Earth
passes through with manure. Reduced fly hatching is usually observed in
manure from livestock fed on Diatom Powder. Some dairy and pig farmers
are also spreading it in bedding (for odour and moisture control)
in addition to that coming through the manure.
 

Dusting
For crops and pastures use 6 to 10kgs per hectare (6 to 10kgs in calm air). Dust after rain, overhead irrigation,        or after a heavy dew to increase sticking of the powder. Dust the plant upward from the ground, covering all stems, top and underside of leaves. For enclosed areas, use 1/2 to 3/4 lb. per 1000 square feet. Hang dust bags     in doorways of barns, milking areas, etc. Sprinkle in areas where ants and roaches are present or areas in which they run, such as skirting boards, under sinks, etc.

In the Row                                                                                                                                                                    Use 4 lbs. per acre injected over the seed.                                                                                                              Premix Diatom with a wetting agent and water, then add the mixture to the planter.

As a Spray                                                                                                                                                                     Mix 2 lbs. per gallon of water with a wetting agent.                                                                                                  Rates as low as 1/4 lb. per 5 gallons of water with a wetting agent have been effective.                                            Be sure to keep the mixture agitated.

Trees                                                                                                                                                                                Sprinkle liberally on the ground and around tree trunks. Tree trunks can also be painted with a mixture of Diatom, water, linseed soap or a wetting agent. This will inhibit the migration of various fruit flies (maggot stage), worms and beetles (grub stage).           

Diatom is not harmful to Earthworms since they are structurally different from insects.                                 When a spray is desired, refer to the spray rates (see above).

Grain Storage                                                                                                                                                               Use at a rate of seven lbs. per ton of grain in barley, corn, wheat, oats, rice, rye, and mixtures of these grains.
Diatom is most effective when grain is treated directly after harvest by coating the outside surface of the grain.
This can be done by applying the Diatom Powder at the elevator or grain auger when the grain is moved into storage. The rate of application for this is 3kg Diatom per ton of grain.

Click here to close this window