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Ohio

I dont fully understand what gypsum does for the patch,Can someone give me a ruff idea on what Gypsum does. and is it ok to add this in the spring, I can only find this in 5 pound bags in garden centers and its not cheap.

thanks again,
Brooks

11/9/2004 8:51:09 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Brooks, gypsum - a common white or colorless mineral (hydrated calcium sulphate). Calcium is rarely considered as a nutrient at all! Instead the focus on calcium has been more as a soil buffer to help adjust pH. Calcium is of macro importance to both the plant and the soil in many more ways than simply moving the pH scale. It plays a major role in the physiology of the plant, strengthening its physical structure and helping in protection from disease attack. In the soil, the importance of calcium is many fold, including the reduction of soil compaction and helping to provide a better environment for the proliferation of beneficial bacteria. The list goes on and yes, it can have a role in the pH of the soil!


http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/elibrary/archive/hort/vegetables/pihve94-01.htm

11/9/2004 9:30:41 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Gypsum is calcium sulphate and is typically around 23% calcium and 18% sulfur. It has this magical reputation of reducing soil compaction. Gypsum is not very effective in a soil that shows less than 60% base saturation. Since it is sulfur rich it will typically not raise the pH.

11/9/2004 9:44:31 AM

Ohio

Thanks Kahuna, Do you add this in your compost or do you add this in the spring or fall, or both?
Thanks for that info, im book marking this post.
Brooks

11/9/2004 9:53:51 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Brooks it depends. The addition of Calcium or any amendment should not be done until you have soil sample results. You may not need to add anything.

11/9/2004 10:45:08 AM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

Gypsum also breaks up clay. In addition, manure will often raise the salinity of the soil, so in addition to adding the slow release calcium, gypsum helps to leach sodium based salts from the soil, the same way as when gypsum is applied to lawns in the spring to repair damage caused by road salt. The calcium from the gypsum replaces the sodium in the soil particles, and allows the sodium to be washed away from the rootzone.

11/9/2004 2:59:38 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Delivers Calcium without changing the pH.

Does break up clay & in doing so:

Helps leach out salts out of the rootzone.

11/9/2004 3:39:50 PM

Warwood

Brooks,
I used 40# on a 700 sq. ft. area after double-digging a 25 x 25 area, added a ton of sand, 5 yards of composted horse manure and planted winter rye. My goal is to leach excess Magnesium and potassium as well as break up any clay soil.
Once I leach some stuff down I will get the correct ratio in time for K:Mg:Ca, 1:3:15. I will add 40 more lbs. in early spring as well as some other organic amendments. Don

11/10/2004 8:09:08 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

After applying some gypsum I kept the label to post here.

Greenacres Agricultural Gypsum - Washington State

"Provides sulphur trioxide, which is an essential food for certain plants. Assists in the decomposition of insoluable potash silicates, rendering the potash more available to plants. Stimulates the growth of nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soils, thus increasing the supply of available nitrogen. Improves soil texture, breaking down hard clay soils and increasing the coherency of loose friable soils. The sodium carbonate of the black alkali soils is said to be converted from the carbonate to the more soluble sulphate, which brings about improvements in soil texture and composition."

Glenn

11/10/2004 10:18:47 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Brooks, $15.00 Canadian ($12.00 US) for a 50 lb bag.

11/10/2004 10:24:14 PM

Ottawa, Ohio

You should be able to get it at an ag fertilizer co. for 40 or so dollars a ton. Bulk

11/11/2004 1:01:48 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Brooks, I finally found a local supplier of gypsum. DiGregory's Green House in Steubenville. 125 Bullock Ave. It's in the Kroger plaza near Harding Middle school on Sunset Blvd. Cost is 4.99/40# bag. You have to ask for it because they have it in a garage in the back.

11/11/2004 2:43:52 PM

Rocky-r@stny.rr.com

We have a grower in PA that takes sheet rock for walls and the extra pieces cut off (obvioiusly he is a contractor) and tills them into the soil. Sheet rock is gypsum with glue and paper on it. Tills in the pieces in the fall, and works just like gypsum.

11/12/2004 6:47:16 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Be careful of fire rated wallboard. There are some additives in wallboard we don't want in the patch. Where the installer is hanging determines what the codes mandate which wallboard he uses.

That sounds funny but it makes sense.

11/12/2004 7:11:13 AM

Ri

Found gypsum pellets today at homedepot under 6 bucks for a 40lb bag pete

11/15/2004 5:18:48 PM

Simi valley, ca

homedepot in southern ca has gypsum 40 lbs 4$ bag

1/6/2005 1:02:27 AM