Gypsum if often promoted as a helpful gardening soil amendment. Although it may benefit gardeners in some regions, gypsum is not a universal cure. Always perform a soil test before applying gypsum or any other soil amendment.
Identification
Gypsum's chemical name is calcium sulfate. It can be synthetically produced or mined. Byproducts of drywall and other manufacturing products are also used to produce gypsum products. Gypsum is a fast-acting product due to its solubility in water, which allows it to release calcium and sulfate into the soil very quickly.
Benefits
Gypsum is generally only effective for sodic soils, which are soils with high levels of soluble salts. These soils are most common in arid climates in the Western United States. Under these conditions, gypsum can be used as a leaching agent to remove excess salts from root zones.
Misconceptions
Gypsum is often said to improve soil drainage and decrease compaction. According to the Iowa State University Extension, however, this is not always true. Incorporating organic matter into compacted, heavy or sandy soils is a much better way to improve drainage and affect soil compaction.
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