Benefits

gypsum have been used for centuries as an additive to enrich the soil with missing minerals and correct pH values. Gypsum can be used for all crops that requires calcium, especially on alkaline soils where they cannot withstand the pH adjustment from limestone. While we normally associate gypsum as a soil amendment, it’s an excellent source of elemental Calcium and Sulfur.

Crops that Benefit from Gypsum

Alfalfa – Gypsum is a source of sulfur. Alfalfa needs 25-50 pounds per acre of actual sulfur to make a good crop. Another report indicated that it helped grow stronger healthier stems.

Alliums – increased growth rates and bulb size

Almonds – increased growth and yields

Barley – increased yields

Citrus – significantly reduced root rot caused by Phytophthora parasitica, reduced salinity effects of salts and improved plant growth (citrus is salt sensitive)

Coffee – increased yields

Corn – 25% higher yields, corn needs about 25-50 pounds of actual sulfur per acre that gypsum can provide

Cranberries – increased yields, less disease

Desert Salt Grass (Distichilis spicata var. stricta) – gypsum increased growth rates and increased biomass, corrected nutrient imbalances due to sodium.

Ginseng – did not affect tissue calcium but a significant increase in both shoot growth and root dry weight.

Grapes – in California gypsum has been used for over 25 years. Used by many wineries to increase production.

Lawns – 50 pounds per 1,000 square feet or one ton/acre

Lilium sp. – reduced upper leaf necrosis (associated with a calcium deficiency)

– Marsh vegetation and wetlands remediation – had significantly higher dry matter production than the control without gypsum

Papaw – increased total lateral branching by 60-73% as compared to unamended control and total dry matter accumulation and net uptake of N, P, and K per tree was 100% greater

Peanuts – 600-880 pounds per acre have been used

– The peanuts grown had higher calcium content but less zinc. All peanuts grown in gypsum treated fields had less Aflatoxin produced on them when compared to unsupplemented peanuts.

Legumes – require lots of sulfur to form nitrogen fixing nodules on the roots.

– Gypsum has been particularly useful to peanut farmers and to some extent to watermelon farmers.

Potatoes

Significantly reduced incidence of internal brown spot and soft rot, in several locations around the country.
The best control of the disease of common scab of potato (S. aureofaciens) was obtained by soil application of gypsum (25 g and 12.5 g/pot), and a corresponding increase in yield
The mean tuber yield response due to sulfur addition was 1.1 t/ha. Addition of sulfur (S) by gypsum was effective in overcoming the sulfur deficiency symptoms and in increasing the sulfur concentration in the leaves.
One study found that growers using 500-1,200 pounds of gypsum per acre had potatoes with stronger cells, they were more uniform in appearance, a decrease in internal brown spotting, and increased storage time

Strawberries – increased yield and reduced soil disease

Tomatoes

earlier ripened fruit with larger fruit
the fruit also had higher levels of some nutrients
worked better in reducing blossom end rot as compared to other calcium sources calcium chloride (CaCl₂₎, calcium nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂,), etc.

Raspberries – it controlled Phytophthora root rot better, significantly increased plant growth, fruit yield, and root growth compared to other methods and control

Sugarcane – increased growth rates

Vegetables – cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, turnips, kale and onions have all been shown to benefit from gypsum

Wheat – increased yields

Wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum) – gypsum increased growth rates and increased biomass, corrected nutrient imbalances due to sodium.

Plants that can benefit from gypsum include:

Flowers – clematis, lilacs, irises, delphiniums, alyssum stock, candy-tuft, nasturtium, tulips, gladioli, roses, camellias and gardenias

Landscape plants – evergreens, rhododendrons, mountain laurel, pin oak, sweet gum and flowering dogwood