When roots are more abundant and can grow deeper into the soil profile, they can take up more water and nutrients, even during the drier periods of a growing season. Although moderately soluble, gypsum can be an excellent source of sulfur over several growing seasons.
Research found that the sulfur is available not only in the year applied, but can continue to supply sulfur for one or two years after, depending on the initial application rate.
Gypsum as a sulfur fertilizer has benefitted corn, soybean, canola, and alfalfa. Gypsum can also help improve soil structure.
Many of us look at soil as a uniform, static substance. In reality, soil is a mixture of inorganic particles, organic particles, and a complex mixture of pore spaces, water, and soil microbes. Its composition changes through weather events like rainstorms, by tillage, or as plants pull nutrients for growth. Farmers have to manage their soil well in order to maintain good crop yields year after year. Improving soil structure helps farmers with some common agricultural problems.
Adding gypsum to the soil reduces erosion by increasing the ability of soil to soak up water after precipitation, thus reducing runoff. Gypsum application also improves soil aeration and water percolation through the soil profile. A recent study showed the benefit of gypsum application to improve movement of water through the profile to tile drains.
It also reduces phosphorus movement out of the field. No matter what solutions farmers are trying to implement when using gypsum, they have several options for application. In Minneapolis, I have compressed clay in my lawns and gardens largely as a result of my home being built in when heavy machinery was used and the basement was dug. That clay subsoil was then spread on the soil. The result is: very happy earth worms and night crawlers.
Perhaps I need to add sand too. I stopped rototilling a few years ago. But in the spring, if the leaf layer is too thick, I shovel it over to plant rows. What could be better than a big bag of pixie dust to apply to the soil?
Acids are also valuable on infield skins to get the pH down below 6 and prevent carbonates. Often the soil is not reclaimable and it has to be removed and thrown away. But yes agree that gypsum is shrouded in myth.
The Myth Upon continued prodding from one of my university extension colleagues, I recently watched several episodes of a well-known gardening program on television.
Among many amazing discoveries I learned that by adding gypsum to my yard or garden I would improve my problem soils by changing the particle size and loosening compaction. Further searching on the web revealed that gypsum would also improve drainage, decrease acidity, and eliminate soil salts.
Previously, I had heard of gypsum for use in soil reclamation projects, but not for a typical urban landscape. Since gypsum is simply calcium sulfate, could this chemical truly transform soil structure and serve as a fertilizer for yards and gardens? The Reality This myth falls into the category of agricultural practices misapplied to ornamental landscapes.
Gypsum effectively changes the structure and fertility of heavy clay soils, especially those that are heavily weathered or subject to intensive crop production. Gypsum also improves sodic saline soils by removing sodium from the soil and replacing it with calcium. Therefore, one can see improvement in clay soil structure and fertility, and desalinization of sodium-rich soils, by using gypsum.
Press here to subscribe. Garden Myths - Learn the truth about gardening. By on People struggle with clay soil and try all kinds of quick fixes including gypsum which is regularly touted as as a clay buster, but does it really work? If you like this post, please share This entry is filed under Fertilizer , Soil and tagged Gypsum.
July 14, at pm. Robert Pavlis says:. August 8, at pm. Kelley T Trezise says:. July 13, at pm. Jo says:. July 9, at pm. Unfortunately these same charged particles can also bind elements which are not good for plants. Sodium ions bind to the clay particles and over time high sodium concentrations can severely damage crops. Enter gypsum.
Gypsum, or calcium sulfate dihydrate, when incorporated into soil releases positively calcium ions which can displace sodium that has built up in the soil. Additions of gypsum allow the sodium to be leached out of the soil and thus make it much more hospitable for most agricultural crops.
In clay soils where sodium is not an issue, additions of gypsum may have little or no benefit. Additionally, in soils that already have high levels of calcium, gypsum will not be very effective at leaching out sodium.
In San Diego, our irrigation water tends to have high levels of calcium already, so in most cases additions of gypsum are not necessary.
The only way to know for sure if your soil has high sodium and or low calcium is to have a soil test done. Before you amend with gypsum, here are a few step you can take first to make sure it is the right choice for your soil:.
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