Gypsum gets deep in the soil layers very quickly and provides the needed calcium and sulfur. It is, therefore, paramount if you are looking to improve the soil structure and drainage or if you want to eliminate the toxic effect of aluminum. Calcium improves soil structure and creates oxygen conditions essential to improve the soil and plants' health. This enhances the quality of the crops, hence, increasing yields. Using a little elbow grease and lovely organic goodies from fall clean up or compost worked into the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches (20 cm.) will provide an excellent soil amendment.
Calcium is essential for all plants,
but the following are especially responsive: apples, broccoli, brussels
sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cherries, citrus, conifers,
cotton, curcurbits, melons, grapes, legumes, lettuce, peaches, peanuts, pears,
peppers, potatoes, tobacco, and tomatoes.[3]
·
Improves the soil
drainage
·
Prevents soil erosion
·
Boosts the soil
structure
·
Upgrades the soil
water relations
·
Reduces surface water
runoff thereby reducing phosphorus and nitrogen loss from soil
·
Increases earthworms
in soil
·
the best for soils
with high PH level but with calcium deficiency.
Main benefits
The fertilizer is derived
from mined gypsum - This makes it high quality since it contains a high level
of calcium and sulfate.
It is repackaged from
organic gypsum - Therefore, you do not have to worry about any chemicals
that might be harmful to the soil
It is 100% soluble in water - This makes it easy to use, and also it
means it is very efficient as soon as after its application and you get to see
the results fast
It contains 97% Calcium
Sulfate Dihydrate, 22.5% calcium and 18% sulfur - These are components required for soil conditioning.
Adding
gypsum and liming materials
In
addition to maintaining and increasing organic matter levels (see 2 above),
some soils require gypsum and/or liming materials to improve structure.
·
Gypsum. Gypsum (calcium sulfate) is a salt.
Its prime function is to improve the structure of sodic clay soils by
dissolving in the soil solution. Its effects are both immediate and long term.
Its
immediate effect, after dissolving in rain or irrigation water, is to increase
the salinity of the water, thereby reducing swelling and dispersion of clay
particles. This, in turn, increases infiltration and drainage of water,
particularly in sodic clay soils. This effect is short-term, lasting only as
long as there is undissolved gypsum.
The
longer-term benefit is for the calcium content of the gypsum to displace sodium
ions from the soil. This reduces the swelling and dispersion of the clay
particles.
Gypsum
is not very soluble, but irrigation speeds up its absorption into the soil. If
treating subsoils, it may be necessary to work it in.
·
Liming materials. Liming corrects soil acidity. The
three main types of liming materials are:
o agricultural lime —
calcium carbonate obtained by crushing limestone rock. It moves slowly in all
but very sandy soils and is used mainly for treating strongly acid topsoils.
The finest quality lime is preferred;
o dolomite -about
60% calcium carbonate and 40% magnesium carbonate;
o magnesite -100%
magnesium carbonate.
Other
liming materials include burnt lime (calcium oxide), hydrated lime (calcium
hydroxide) and waste materials such as kiln dusts, sewage residues and blast
furnace slags.
Lime
or a mixture of lime and gypsum can also be used to improve soil structure, but
this is not recommended for alkaline soils (pH over 7).
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