Gypsum is a soft mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate. It is a common soil amendment used to improve soil structure, drainage, and fertility. Gypsum has a number of benefits for plants, including:
Source of calcium and sulfur: Gypsum is a good source of calcium and sulfur, two essential nutrients for plant growth. Calcium helps to improve soil structure and drainage, while sulfur is involved in protein synthesis and other important plant processes.
Improves soil structure: Gypsum can help to improve soil structure by flocculating clay particles. This makes the soil more porous and allows for better water infiltration and drainage. Improved soil structure can also reduce soil erosion and improve plant root growth.
Reduces sodicity: Gypsum can be used to reduce sodicity in soils. Sodic soils have a high concentration of sodium ions, which can cause clay particles to disperse and clog soil pores. This can make the soil difficult to work and reduce plant growth. Gypsum helps to replace the sodium ions with calcium ions, which flocculate the clay particles and improve soil structure.
Improves water quality: Gypsum can help to improve water quality by reducing phosphorus runoff. Phosphorus is a nutrient that is essential for plant growth, but excess phosphorus can pollute waterways and cause algae blooms. Gypsum can bind to phosphorus in the soil and reduce its availability for runoff.
Other benefits: Gypsum can also help to improve the quality of horticultural crops, such as fruits and vegetables. It can also be used to reclaim sodic and high magnesium soils.
How to apply gypsum: Gypsum can be applied to soil in a number of ways. It can be broadcast over the soil surface, tilled into the soil, or banded in the furrow when planting. The recommended application rate of gypsum will vary depending on the soil type and the desired results.
Gypsum is a versatile soil amendment with a wide range of benefits. It can be used to improve soil structure, drainage, fertility, and water quality. Gypsum is also a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-apply soil amendment.