Hello.

We have a 1m deep by about 1m diameter hole in the rice field that drains the water underground to the river.

I bought 35kg of Bentonite Clay powder and will try and use this to plug the hole.

Never used it before and new at hole plugging (in rice fields).

Any advice on how to do it?

Hi, I had a similar problem some years back after a particular dry “ dry season “. As my heavy clay soil dries, cracks form underground and normally lead to a low pressure areas like a river,  or a dam in my case. Anyway, after some very heavy rain my rice field had a similar size hole adjacent to my dam and actually filled my large dam within a couple of days. The locals said that this normal and needed to be filled with sand bags. Got about 20 bags delivered, stopped about 90% of the flow immediately and then topped it with soil after the rice season was over. A couple of years later, all good. 
sorry, no experience with Bentonite Clay but could do the trick, maybe need a heap of it. Good luck.
 

Just go for it. I fixed a pond once just pouring the dry Bentonite into the water around the hole. Probably better to wait until it's nearly dry and pour in a slurry.

I use Bentonite as finings to clear my home made vino. 

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

I use Bentonite as finings to clear my home made vino. 

Definitely not a red wine. 🙂

19 minutes ago, carlyai said:

Definitely not a red wine. 🙂

Very observant. I alternate white & red.

5 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Very observant. I alternate white & red.

Well done that man.

Does it taste better than the local Thai wines or did you 'acquire a taste'?

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

I use Bentonite as finings to clear my home made vino. 

A good wipe over with a wet cloth wouldn`t go amiss in there...🫢

59 minutes ago, petermik said:

A good wipe over with a wet cloth wouldn`t go amiss in there...🫢

The blurriness I assume you are referring to was caused by condensation when I opened my wine fridge door.

If it is the slight griminess of the fridge, I shall take your advice and give my Mrs a wet cloth. 555

23 hours ago, petermik said:

A good wipe over with a wet cloth wouldn`t go amiss in there...🫢

 

22 hours ago, KannikaP said:

 

If it is the slight griminess of the fridge, I shall take your advice and give my Mrs a wet cloth. 555

sorry but "slight" is an understatement....wet cloth no good I suggest a power washer 🤣

1 hour ago, petermik said:

 

sorry but "slight" is an understatement....wet cloth no good I suggest a power washer 🤣

What are you on about please?

It is an older display fridge, used only for beer and wine storage. Oh yes, and my tea bags.

The rice field hole grew yesterday with the biggest rain downpour I've seen here.

'The boys' made a dirt dam around the area, which has stopped the water rushing into the hole. 

Will have a better look in the dry season.

Evidently there used to be a large tree there and the roots must be left.

First time we've (really wifey) has tackled 6 ry of rice fields. 

BIL fell of his perch a few months ago so we're it.

Bentonite / Montmorillonite clay has many uses.  In horticulture, one of the ways it is used, which some growers may be interested in, is as a component of potting soil mix, to improve soil structure and CEC (cation exchange capacity). This facilitates nutrient holding capacity for the otherwise porous nature of most soil-less substrates which are used for container and raised-bed plantings . The clay in the engineered blend can help with soil moisture retention and to counteract the rapid leaching of mineral nutrients. 

 

And in agriculture: 

Farming in Thailand

The application of clay technology by farmers in northeast Thailand, using bentonite clay, has dramatically reversed soil degradation and resulted in greater economic returns, with higher yields and higher output prices. Studies carried out by The International Water Management Institute and partners in 2002–2003 focused on the application of locally sourced bentonite clays to degraded soils in the region. These applications were carried out in structured field trials. Applying bentonite clays effectively improved yields of forage sorghum grown under rain-fed conditions.^[39][40]

Bentonite application also influenced the prices that farmers received for their crops. Production costs are higher, but due to higher production and the quality of the food, clay farmers could afford to invest and grow more and better food, compared to nonclay-using farmers.^[41][42]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentonite