There are thousands of agricultural products that claim to increase yields—from the latest hybrids to implements and electronic gadgetry. As a grower, you do everything it takes to maximize output with the least amount of input costs. But as input prices continue to increase, and margins become increasingly thinner, many growers are getting back to basics by applying gypsum (calcium sulfate), which helps improve the structure and balance of their soil.

Improving your business from the ground up—and down

Gypsum has been used for centuries as a soil additive. Its use has been widespread in Europe, and it is growing in popularity in the United States. Gypsum is especially popular in no-till systems, because of the marked improvement in soil structure and decrease in soil compaction.

There are three ways to obtain gypsum. It can be mined, but this method is not usually readily available or cost-effective. The second method is to reclaim and recycle gypsum products, including drywall from new construction projects. The final method is to collect the calcium sulfate that is the bi-product of the eco-friendly process of producing electricity. The latter two methods are more commonplace, especially in the Midwest. This not only helps rebuild your soil, it reuses byproducts that would otherwise go to waste.

Gypsum improves structure and balances the nutrients in your soil. Plus, it offers a variety of other valuable benefits:

• Flushes out unwanted Magnesium, Aluminum, and Sodium
• Aids biological processes in building soil structure
• Loosens soil and reduces compaction
• Improves residue breakdown, which adds more nutrients to your soil 
• Enhances soil's water infiltration and water-holding capacity
• Allows for faster drainage, which can mean more days in the field
• Helps soil release nutrients to the crop
• Improves rooting of plants for better drought tolerance

Reduce expensive fertilizer applications

You already have literally hundreds of years of nutrients trapped in your soil. The main issue is balancing these nutrients and making them available to your crop's roots. Gypsum helps bring soil back to its rich, natural state. After several applications of gypsum, some growers report being able to significantly reduce their fertilizer applications, while increasing overall yield.

Less compaction, deeper rooting, better water infiltration

When soil structure is in balance, water is able to soak faster and deeper into the ground. As a result, root systems are able to branch farther down, which helps loosen the soil and provide more channels for earthworms do their part.

Some growers report remarkable differences in how long it takes for rainwater to dissipate into their fields. Where water would once stand for a week or more after a heavy rainfall, a gypsum-treated field can soak up the water in as little as a few hours to a few days. This allows the crops to get back to normal and allows the grower to get back in the field that much sooner.

An important part of a no-till system

Gypsum is a natural choice for no-till systems. The improvement in soil nutrient release and biological activity provides a healthy, fertile foundation for your crops to grow and thrive. For best results, you will need to apply every one to two years using conventional lime or litter-spreading equipment. You can enjoy some benefits in one to two years, with significant improvements after four to five applications.

For more information, please visit Gypsoil.