• Calcium bentonite is a useful adsorbent of ions in solution, as well as fats and oils.
• Bentonite is used as an inert carrier for pesticides, fertilizer, and fire retardants.
• It helps ensure that the active agent is uniformly dispersed and that pesticides and fertilizers are retained on the plants.
• Soil erosion is a consequence of unsustainable land management; it leads to increase in land degradation and a decrease in soil fertility, and it directly affects agricultural productivity.
• Inorganic fertilizers are frequently used to increase soil fertility and crop yield. However, they are not a permanent solution to tackle soil infertility.
• The long-term application of mineral fertilizers into soils with a low percentage of organic compounds accelerates the mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM) and disrupts the natural metabolic processes of soil organisms. This leads to a reduction in the SOM content, nutritional imbalance, and soil acidification.
• Therefore, natural amendments, such as bentonite and its combination with manure, could be useful tools to maintain or increase the SOM in a sustainable way.
• SOM plays an essential role in long-term soil conservation and restoration by sustaining its fertility and, hence, in sustainable agricultural production, due to the improvement of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils.
• Many studies have reported that the application of organic material to the soil has increased the soil organic carbon storage

Bentonite-based organic amendments may have the potential to enhance soil microbial properties.