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What is Gypsum?

Gypsum is also known as calcium sulfate. Gypsum has multiple uses in the realm of agriculture including being a source of calcium and sulfur for plants. When gypsum is added to soils that contain high levels of salt, it helps reduce sodium and magnesium levels. Gypsum is also useful for acidic soils that have aluminum or boron at toxic levels. Gypsum otherwise helps create more favorable soil structure aggregate as well as improved water retention levels.

Gypsum is an amendment that is considered to 'open' up soil increasing permeability without having an obvious effect on the PH of the soil (There are reports it can help nudge acidic soils towards neutral but I haven't confirmed this). It has the ability to flocculate clay particulates in the soil.





Personally, I would advise to be careful if you choose to use Gypsum on your soils. Too much can be detrimental to having success with creating a favorable ecosystem for plants.
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gardener
Posts: 2097
Location: Zone 6b
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Here are some info regarding using gypsum to ameliorate aluminum toxicity in acidic soil, a situation plaguing my yard. Without treatment, plant roots are very shallow. Often I find squash roots only 1.5" down the surface, and their ability to retrieve water and nutrients is greatly restricted. This spring I broadcasted some pelleted gypsum in the garden and the plants were much happier, especiallythe sunflowers, which are highly sensitive to Al toxicity. Given that sunflowers have high demand in sulfur for lipid synthesis, gypsum also added the fertility they need.  In this picture of a 10 ft tall sunflower I dug up, the root ball reached 7 " deep and went no further. I am going to work out a plan to use both lime and gypsum to build the soil deeper.
Screenshot_20251006_174525_Gallery.jpg
R. Weil textbook gypsum to combat Al toxicity
R. Weil textbook gypsum to combat Al toxicity
Screenshot_20251006_174520_Gallery.jpg
R. Weil gypsum works deeper than lime
R. Weil gypsum works deeper than lime
Screenshot_20251006_174553_Gallery.jpg
Examine sunflower root ball tap root stopped at 7"
Examine sunflower root ball tap root stopped at 7"
 
pollinator
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Location: Illinois
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I use gypsum of parts of my garden. One garden is dedicated no external additions so it hasn't gotten anything in 2 years. Everything else has gotten some.
 
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Gypsum (calcium sulfate) applied to high magnesium soils will combine with the sulfur to form magnesium sulfate which is readily taken up by plants. High magnesium soils with a high pH like we have here may complex the magnesium and not be plant available as needed. Here is a source for very high quality, mined gypsum. Started using it this year and will part of our fertility consideration going forward with our organic certification in 2026.

gypsumagsupply.com
 
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