From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Williamsport, Pa.

there is a place in pa i found in a farm magisine that sells recycled gypsum for agricutual use. the site is( usa gypsum).its cost is much less than the claysoft you buy at lowes.. i was wondering if anyone else uses this product, or does it have the same qualitys.. the website gives you the analasis. so if some of you experts could chime in, it would be appreciated.. thanks , scott from pa

12/17/2009 5:54:50 AM

Sheridan . NY

scott --there are gypsum calcium carbenate mimes all over pa some just to the west of you near Tyrone pa

12/17/2009 8:46:55 PM

Colorado Springs, CO

Gypsum is a hydrous calcium sulfate, it is not a carbonate. CaSO4+H2O

scottie,....What soil issue are you trying to correct ? People generally use gypsum to derive the calcium and sulfur from that mineral molecule. If one applies too much gypsum, as with many other substances, the impact could take years to reverse before an equilibrium is re-established.

12/19/2009 11:50:27 AM

Williamsport, Pa.

thanks craig and tomato man..my base satuation,k-7.3,mg16.8,ca67.0...im trying to get my ca around 75-85.. am i screwing up ???im no expert at this soil stuff

12/21/2009 9:53:27 AM

Colorado Springs, CO

You've got Ca of 67 and you're trying to ratchet it up to 75-85 ? I can not say for sure whether you are screwing up....but you are not far from that desired level, so you just might screw up by pushing-the-tweak if you use too much gypsum. Be careful. What is your pH ? How about basic soil desciption of sand, clay, loam, or what ? Are you a diligent user of home-made composts.

I save eggshells from the kitchen throughout the year. Quick rinse and then into a large empty pretzel bottle. When it's full I go in with a gloved hand and crush them all to small pieces, and save more till full, and repeat. By springtime I have quite a quantity and place a handful or two into the backfill soils at every tomato, pepper, squash and pumpkin plant. You're not too far from the coast. Can you get oyster shell, crab shell, or fish meal and seaweed products around there ? Good calcium there too.

I do not have skin blemishes on any of those fruits ! Calcium is good for that, for other cell wall strength factors, and by fall all those white specs in that soil have been degraded and used by the bio-life there during the season.

12/21/2009 5:13:28 PM