GYPSUM ASPIRIN FOR THE SOIL

Its Use in the United States

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Malcolm E. Sumner Regents Professor of Environmental Soil Science Emeritus University of Georgia Athens, GA 4/22/12malcolm296@charter.net

INTRODUCTION

Ancient history of gypsum use Gypsum use in the 20th and 21st Centuries

Mined vs Industrial gypsum Agricultural benefits

Amendment for sodicity & crusting

Promotes infiltration and permeability

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Nutrient source

Ca and S

WHAT IS FGD GYPSUM?

CaCO3 + SO2 + H2O + O2 Limeston Sulfur Wate FGD CaSO4.2H2O Oxyge e dioxid r Gypsum n
e FGD = Flue gas desulfurization

Scrubb er

Powe r Plant

FGD Gypsum

Dewatering pond

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Mined vs By-product Gypsum

e Pur sum gyp

PURITY FGD 95.3% MINED 77.8%

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Crust Formation, Infiltration, Runoff & Erosion

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CRUST FORMATION Requires

Raindrop energy

Dispersible clay
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CRUST FORMATION

Washed-out layer

Washed-in layer

CLOSEUP
Seal 1-2 mm thick

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GYPSUM

Promotes clay flocculation Increases infiltration Increases percolation Reduces crusting Decreases runoff and erosion Promotes seedling emergence
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Increases infiltration

Promotes flocculation

Reduces runoff
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In fil tr at io n ra te ( m m /h r)

Decreases soil loss

S oi l lo ss (T /h a)

Gypsum Promotes Water Percolation

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GYPSUM PROMOTES SEEDLING EMERGENCE

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Poor emergence due to crust

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SEEDLING EMERGENCE

Drying of crust

Increases strength Germinating seedlings unable to emerge Poor crop stand Reduced yield

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Gypsum over row reduces crusting Allows seedlings to emerge

CRUSTING AND SEEDLING EMERGENCE

100

Dispersible Clay Penetration resistance Seedling emergence

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

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Dispersible clay (%)

GYPSUM AND SEEDLING EMERGENCE

12 10

Seedling emergence (%)

Gypsum promotes Seedling emergence

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Days after planting

SUBSOIL HARDPANS

Many soils have natural or tillage-induced hardpans

Limit root penetration into subsoil Restrict crops ability to obtain water Measured by cone penetrometer

Penetration resistance

Expressed as cone index

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Effect of Compaction on Soil Porosity

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Effect of Compaction on Root and Top Growth of Corn

LOW 4/22/12

MED

HIG HG

Cone Penetrometer

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Effect of Gypsum on Cone Index

0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 2

Depth (cm)

10

12

Cone index (MPa)

GYPSUM, CONE INDEX & COTTON ROOT GROWTH

2 4 6 8 10

12

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Effect of Subsoiling and Gypsum on Infiltration

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Year

GYPSUM AS NUTRIENT SOURCE

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Peanu ts
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PEANUTS
12 10

Yield (T/ha)

Tomatoe s
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12

GYPSUM AND TOMATOES - ALABAMA

10

Yield (T/ha)

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Year

(Stored at Room Temperature for 2 Weeks Mississippi)

Effect of Gypsum on Shelf Life of Tomatoes

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GYPSUM 4/22/12

CONTROL

Blossom end rot

Cantaloupes

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No Gypsu m

1T Gypsum/ ha

2T Gypsum/ ha

3T Gypsum/ ha

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12

GYPSUM AND CANTALOUPES

10

Yield (T/ha)

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No Gypsu m

Cantalou pes stored at 4C for 4 weeks

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2T

SQUAS H

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Gypsu

Squash Yield Response to Gypsum

12

Increase in yield due to gypsum (%)

10

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Site #

Cucumber

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Cucumber Yield Response to Gypsum

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BELL PEPPERS

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12

Effect of Gypsum on Bell Pepper Yield

10

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Watermelon

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Gyps um

Contr ol

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Effect of Gypsum on Watermelon Yields - Florida

12 10

Yield (T/ha)

0 4/22/12

Sunn Hemp

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4/22/12

GYPSU M

CONTR OL

12

Effect of Gypsum on Sunn Hemp Yield & N Uptake

10

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GYPSU M

CONTR OL

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Potato

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Effect of Gypsum on Potato Florida

12 10

Yield (T/ha)

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CONTROL

GYPSUM

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GYPSUM & SUBSOIL ACIDITY

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Requirements for Good Root Growth

Absence of soluble Al3+ High levels of soluble Ca2+

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Gypsum & Reduction of Subsoil Acidity Increases subsoil calcium

Reduces subsoil aluminum (toxic) Allows roots to penetrate Gypsum subsoils Cro Application Increases potentially available p water

Al3+ Al3+ A l Al3+ + A 3+ l3+ Al3 Al3+ + Al3 Al3+ 4/22/12 A Al3+ l3+

Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+ Al3 Ca2+ Ca2++ Al3+ Al

Roots pruned

High Al and Low Ca Cause

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Root Pruning

Effect of Gypsum on Exchangeable Al and Ca in the Soil Profile

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Effect of Gypsum on Exchangeable Al

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Effect of Gypsum on Exchangeable Ca

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Alfalfa
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Effect of Gypsum on Alfalfa Yields

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Contr ol
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Gyps um

Walk er 4 6

10

12

McCallu 6 m4

10

12

Depth (in)

Depth (in)

Increase 4/22/12 in root growth due to gypsum (%)

Increase in root growth due to gypsum (%)

Cotton
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Effect of Gypsum on Cotton Root Development Mississippi

Contorted tap roots due to Al toxicity

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Straight tap roots in absence

12

Effect of Gypsum on Cotton Yield

10

Lint yield (kg/ha)

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Year

Pastur es
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Effect of Gypsum on Bermuda Nutrient Content

12 10

Nutrient content (%)

0 4/22/12

12

Effect of Gypsum on Bermuda and Fescue Georgia

10

Yield (T/ha)

0 4/22/12

Bermud a rease in root growth due to gypsum (%) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Fescu 0 e 50

100

Depth (in)
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Depth (in)

Increase in root growth due to gyp

Turf
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East Lake CC 4 6 8

10

12

Lane Creek GC 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

4/22/12 ease in root growth due to gypsum (%) Increase in root growth due to gyps

Depth (cm)

Depth (in)

CONCLUSIONS

Gypsum

Reclaims sodic soils Promotes clay flocculation & infiltration Promotes percolation & drainage Reduces crusting, runoff & erosion Ameliorates subsoil acidity Softens subsoil hardpans a source of Ca and S for

Provides 4/22/12

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
First Publically Funded University in the United States

4/22/12