Effects of Gypsum as a Soil Conditioner on Physical Properties of the Soil

• Improved surface crusting and prevention of pore clogging by clay
• Increased seed germination rates due to improved soil structure
• Enhanced rooting caused by improved soil structure
• Reduced erosion and runoff because of greater water penetration
• Increased volume of water available to plants due to the presence of more moisture in the lower layers of soil
• Enhanced exchange of oxygen between the soil and the atmosphere

Properties of gypsum as a fertilizer

• Gypsum is a source of calcium and sulfate
• Gypsum is a suitable calcium source for plants such as peanuts, tomatos, wheat, corn and citrus that require considerable amounts of calcium
• Gypsum application to rice fields has increased seed yield by up to 21 percent
• In organic farming, gypsum application decreases plant diseases
• Compared to organic farming without gypsum application, organic farming with gypsum application increases total nitrogen content of fruit