Why Is Gypsum Used In Moonshine?

Description – Gypsum (calcium sulfate) additive is used in the distilling and brewing community to put calcium ions back into distilled or reverse osmosis purified water. Can also be used to lower pH of water, wort, or mash. Used in de-mineralized or soft to medium hard water to increase permanent hardness.

When used as directed, gypsum is effective in eliminating the variations of composition encountered in water from common surface sources. Establishing the proper pH of the mash and the wort and providing sufficient calcium ions essential for enzyme function, kettle protein coagulation and yeast metabolism.

In beer brewing, calcium sulfate gypsum is added to the brewing water to adjust the water chemistry and enhance hop flavor. In distilling, gypsum is added to the wash (the mixture of water, grains, and yeast used to produce spirits) to increase the ionic content, which can improve the flavors of the final product.

However, the use of gypsum should be done in moderation, as too much can lead to an undesired taste. Dosage Guide Prepare a 1% solution of cold water and gypsum in a separate tank with vigorous mixing. Calcium salts are more soluble in cold water, and the hard mixing will help dissolve the salt more completely.

Dilute the gypsum solution into water being heated for mashing or for sparging. The final concentration of salts should be in the range of 100 to 1000 ppm (mg/L). This will require 0.025 – 0.25 lb/Bbl (10 to 100 g/hl). If a tank is not available for making the solution ahead of time, the gypsum can be also added directly to the mash or sparge water with as much mixing as possible to disperse correctly.

What does gypsum do to moonshine mash?

Description – Gypsum, also known as Calicum Sulphate turns “soft” water into “hard” water. Hard water is rich with minerals which some say adds a certain flavor into their brews or spirits. Home-brewers and home-distillers add the contents into their distilled water to give it some hardness.

It fights against toxic substances in the yeast. It also doubles as a way to lower the pH of water. Our Gypsum is in powdered form (also known as hydrated calcium sulphate) and is an essential part of yeast cell formation. Directions: Use 1 teaspoon of package contents per 5 gallons of water. Find a 5 LB.

Bag here

What does gypsum do to mash water?

Calcium Sulphate (Gypsum) is an important mineral for its effect on mash and wort pH. Used to harden water when brewing ales and bitters. Use as required depending on water hardness. Gypsum (Calcium Sulphate) adds permanent hardness (calcium ions) to brewing water; 1 gram per US gallon adds 62 ppm calcium, 147 ppm sulfate.

1. Calcium Sulphate (Gypsum) is used to “harden” the process water or as a direct additive to the malt mash or kettle wort.
2. The benefit comes from the Calcium ion.
3. More on Calcium Sulphate or Gypsum: Calcium Sulphate is a critical component in the measurement of permanent water hardness (also known as non-carbonate hardness).

This part of water hardness is defined by the sum of all calcium and magnesium ions that are associated with anions such as chloride or sulfate. It is referred to as permanent hardness because of the fact that it will not precipitate under the influence of heat.

1. Therefore, calcium sulfate is also one of the primary salts used for the improvement of calcium levels in beer.
2. Proper calcium levels in beer can provide the following influences that are generally considered to be positive: they lower the pH, preserve mash enzymes, increase extract yield, improve yeast growth and flocculation, accelerate oxalate removal, and reduce color.

The sulfate ion in this compound is generally thought to promote a drier, more bitter beer. Burton-on-Trent, England is the classic source of water with a high calcium sulfate content, caused by the region’s large gypsum deposits. The emulation of this classic water has led to the term “Burtonization,” meaning to improve one’s brewing water via the addition of calcium sulfate.

Does gypsum raise pH?

Gypsum is a calcium sulfate containing product that provides both calcium and sulfate to the soil system. No change in pH can be expected from a gypsum application.

What does gypsum do to soil pH?

What is Gypsum? – Gypsum is calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO 4 2H 2 0). Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, such as GYPSOIL ® brand gypsum, is a co-product material derived from the scrubbing of flue gas emissions in coal-burning power plants. Gypsum can be spread with lime and litter spreaders.

• Gypsum is not acid soluble and will not change the soil pH.
• It helps to shift the Ca and Mg levels in soil and offers a readily available form of sulfate sulfur, a valuable secondary nutrient that benefits the soil and crop.
• The sulfate in gypsum binds with excess Mg in the soil to form soluble Epsom salt, which moves lower into the soil profile.

This Mg is replaced by Ca, improving water holding capacity, root development and soil quality.2

Does gypsum lower pH in mash?

Mash pH: Controlling And Adjusting All-grain brewers need to mash their grains in order to extract fermentable sugars. This process, called conversion, takes place in water under certain conditions of volume, temperature, pH, and time. Today, we’ll talk about mash pH: ideal mash pH range, effects of being too high or too low, and how to use pH strips or digital meter to take pH readings and make corrective adjustments.

About Mash pH pH is simply a measurement of how acidic or alkaline something is. On a scale of 0 to 14, a pH of 0.0 is highly acidic, 7.0 is neutral, and 14.0 is highly alkaline. The ideal mash pH range of 5.0 to 5.5. A pH of 5.4 is considered “optimal” for most applications, and it’s a good target for brewers new to homebrew mashing.

Measuring Mash pH Whether mashing for the first time or brewing your 100th batch, it’s important to measure your mash pH. No one wants to find out after the fact that their mash was ineffective and their target original gravity much too low. The least expensive option for measuring mash pH is the,

• For just a few dollars, brewers can take dozens of readings.
• All you do is dip the colored end of the strip into the mash for a second or two, remove it, and then read the color.
• The trade-off of the low price tag is that it’s kind of difficult to get an super, accurate reading from the test strips.
• Personally, the best I can do is approximate within about 0.2 how close I am to the target pH.

This method might work fine for partial mash brewing and beginning all-grain brewers, but before long, they may want an upgrade. The solution is a, Though it may be a little more expensive than a pack of test strips, the digital meter is significantly more accurate, and well worth the investment in my opinion.

Mash pH Adjustments So now that you can measure your mash pH, how can you adjust it if it’s too high or too low? To lower your mash pH (increase the acidity of the mash), add half a teaspoon of to a 5 or 6 gallon mash and stir well. To increase mash pH, add half a teaspoon of to a 5 or 6 gallon mash and stir.

Take pH readings and keep making adjustments until you are within the ideal mash pH range of 5.0 to 5.5, but do not add more than two teaspoons of either ingredient. If you choose to test the pH of your water prior to mashing in, keep in mind that adding grains to the water will cause the pH to drop.

• Dealing with a mash pH, taking reading, making adjustments, etc., may sound challenging and technical, but once you get the hang of it, it will become second-nature, and you’ll be well on your way to exercising more control over your craft and brewing the beer that you ultimately want to drink.
• David Ackley is a beer writer, brewer, and self-described “craft beer crusader.” He is a graduate of the Oskar Blues Brew School in Brevard, NC.

: Mash pH: Controlling And Adjusting

Does gypsum affect mash pH?

Mash pH is a crucial factor in the beer brewing process. You can adjust the mash pH by adding salts to the water or mash. One of the most popular salts for this purpose is gypsum. You will need about 0.5-2 tsp of gypsum to lower your mash pH. The exact quantity should be based on your water parameters.

Does gypsum increase yield?

Therefore, gypsum application decreases Al toxicity to plants and increases crop grain yields as a result in NT soils with high Al saturation.

Is gypsum used to reduce pH?

Gypsum does not change pH nor improve drainage in non-sodic situations. Gypsum is used to add calcium to soils such as serpentine with very high or toxic Mg levels.

Should you add gypsum to mash or boil?

How is gypsum used for hoppy beers? – Gypsum acts to suppress harshness and astringent flavours. Gypsum is often added to hoppy beers to add a perceived dryness and enhance the hop bitterness. The sulfate ions in gypsum can enhance the perception of hop bitterness by adding a sharp, clean and almost puckering taste, while the calcium ions can help to clarify and stabilize the beer, and contribute to a dry finish.

Which is better lime or gypsum?

Applying Gypsum and Lime Together A misunderstanding about lime and gypsum is that if you mix them or apply them together they will be antagonistic or “fight” one another. Another misunderstanding is that gypsum is for high pH soils and lime is for low pH soils.

In actuality, gypsum can be applied and has benefits in both high pH soil and low pH soils. Gypsum and lime applied together can actually have synergistic effects. So why would we want to apply gypsum and lime together? I will outline several reasons. First lime is insoluble in water so it is relatively immobile in the soil.

Contrast that with gypsum which is water soluble and has much greater mobility in the soil. Gypsum therefore improves soil conditions much more rapidly than lime and will affect soil conditions to a greater depth than lime will. Gypsum will supply calcium to deeper depths than lime.

• This will improve subsoil conditions, and allow for greater root growth (better nutrient and water efficiency).
• If aluminum toxicity is an issue due to acid subsoils, the gypsum will also react with the aluminum to offset its effect.
• As a result, root depth will be greater and nutrient availability will be improved.

Lime can initially cause a cementing of the soil at the surface decreasing water infiltration. By applying gypsum with the lime you will negate this surface sealing affect. With improving soil conditions, lime movement will be greater. Lime will have a much more pronounced effect on soil pH than gypsum will, however, the pH change will be near the surface where the lime is placed.

Lime is often times dusty and can become air borne when applied. The most reactive lime is the dust so you will not realize the benefits of this lime if it lands on your neighbor’s field. By applying gypsum with the lime you can apply a very high quality lime source and control the dustiness of the lime.

The application will be dust free. If you have variable soils and areas with high pH you won’t want to apply lime in those areas, but still may want to apply gypsum. In those situations, a mix of lime and gypsum may not be ideal. Applying lime/gypsum mixes are becoming more common by our customers.

What are the negative effects of gypsum?

2.2.3.2. Pollution – There is always a risk of pollution in soil and underground/surface waters in gypsum areas. This pollution problem takes place as a result of salinization. Gypsum units may lead to salinization by ion decomposition resulting from the contact with water.

Waters with the intense ion content formed during salinization threaten underground waters, surface waters, soil quality, and the life of plants, animals, and humans in the places of their passage, as leachate waters. In other words, leachates are the waters containing inorganic pollutants, and they also interact with other materials.

This also reduces the existing underground/surface water quality and decreases the soil fertility, plant diversity, and the acquisition of fertile product, The pollutants mixed in the soil also affect living beings in the soil, plants that grow/are grown in the soil, or living beings fed with these plants.

Is lime same as gypsum?

Lime vs gypsum – Let us start with the easiest distinction. Lime is a carbonate, oxide or hydroxide of calcium. It is used to increase soil pH and provide calcium ions in the soil. Gypsum is calcium sulphate. It is also used to provide calcium ions in the soil, but does not have the effect of increasing soil pH.

Does gypsum lower pH in beer?

Controlling Mash pH – If the pH of your mash does not naturally fall into the acceptable range, there are a variety of ways to manipulate it. The most common problem for brewers, especially those with lots of carbonate ions in their water, is a mash pH that is too high.

To lower pH, brewers often add calcium ions, from gypsum (calcium sulfate) or calcium chloride. In a 5-gallon (19-L) batch, one or two teaspoons of either of these will often solve the problem. Likewise, organic acids — such as lactic acid or phosphoric acid — can be added to directly lower mash pH. Adding sour malt, up to about 5% of the grist, is a “natural” way to add lactic acid to the mash.

If the brewer’s water has a lot of carbonates, and this is what is keeping his or her pH level too high, the carbonate level can be greatly reduced by boiling the water and racking it off the precipitate. It is usually easier, however, to simply treat carbonate-rich water with acid (to neutralize the carbonates) or dilute it with distilled water or water prepared by reverse osmosis (RO).

Is gypsum basic or acidic?

Gypsum: an old product with a new use Gypsum is calcium sulfate (CaSO 4 ). Refined gypsum in the anhydrite form (no water) is 29.4 percent calcium (Ca) and 23.5 percent sulfur (S). Usually, gypsum has water associated in the molecular structure (CaSO 4 ·2H2O) and is approximately 23.3 percent Ca and 18.5 percent S (plaster of paris).

Gypsum fertilizer usually has other impurities so grades are approximately 22 percent Ca and 17 percent S. Gypsum is sparingly soluble (the reason wallboard gets soft but does not immediately dissolve when it gets wet, at least if only damp occasionally). Gypsum is the neutral salt of a strong acid and strong base and does not increase or decrease acidity.

Dissolving gypsum in water or soil results in the following reaction: CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O = Ca 2 + + SO 4 2- + 2H 2 O. It adds calcium ions (Ca 2 +) and sulfate ions (SO 4 2-), but does not add or take away hydrogen ions (H+). Therefore, it does not act as a liming or acidifying material.

How much gypsum to add to lower pH?

Gypsum can also be used to lower the pH of water. Use 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons. Brewing Gypsum is packaged in 1lb powdered bag. Keep away from moisture after opening.

What is the best pH for moonshine?

The accepted pH range for mashing is 5.2–5.8, with 5.4 considered the optimum.

What does gypsum do for whiskey mash?

Description – Gypsum (calcium sulfate) additive is used in the distilling and brewing community to put calcium ions back into distilled or reverse osmosis purified water. Can also be used to lower pH of water, wort, or mash. Used in de-mineralized or soft to medium hard water to increase permanent hardness.

1. When used as directed, gypsum is effective in eliminating the variations of composition encountered in water from common surface sources.
2. Establishing the proper pH of the mash and the wort and providing sufficient calcium ions essential for enzyme function, kettle protein coagulation and yeast metabolism.

In beer brewing, calcium sulfate gypsum is added to the brewing water to adjust the water chemistry and enhance hop flavor. In distilling, gypsum is added to the wash (the mixture of water, grains, and yeast used to produce spirits) to increase the ionic content, which can improve the flavors of the final product.

However, the use of gypsum should be done in moderation, as too much can lead to an undesired taste. Dosage Guide Prepare a 1% solution of cold water and gypsum in a separate tank with vigorous mixing. Calcium salts are more soluble in cold water, and the hard mixing will help dissolve the salt more completely.

Dilute the gypsum solution into water being heated for mashing or for sparging. The final concentration of salts should be in the range of 100 to 1000 ppm (mg/L). This will require 0.025 – 0.25 lb/Bbl (10 to 100 g/hl). If a tank is not available for making the solution ahead of time, the gypsum can be also added directly to the mash or sparge water with as much mixing as possible to disperse correctly.

What pH should moonshine water be?

Water Softeners for Distilleries – Distillery water usage is very unique. In most cases, you want water to have a pH between 7 and 8. If it below 6.5 pH, it is considered acidic while if it is above 8.5 pH, it is considered basic. Most distillers will tell you that pH levels of 5.5 produce the perfect acidic environment for the fermentation process.

Hard water, which is water that contains a lot of minerals, keeps the pH level high. By installing a reverse osmosis system, the water will have calcium and other minerals removed which will make the water more acidic. By making the water more acidic, it will lower the pH into your preferred range around 5.5 pH.

More specifically, the mashing and fermentation process need low levels of pH and calcium carbonate. High levels of calcium carbonate keep the pH too high, which in turn stop the yeast from interaction with sugars in the mash. It also breeds an environment which makes it easier for bacteria to grow.

What are the disadvantages of gypsum in soil?

Gypsum can be used as a source of calcium and sulfur, however, remember: –

Gypsum is more soluble than lime and can add calcium more rapidly to the soil. This may result in decreasing potassium or magnesium levels in the soil. Monitor this by soil testing. Michigan soils generally are calcareous-based soils meaning they are derived from materials high in calcium resulting in soils naturally higher in calcium. Gypsum can be used as a sulfur source, however, it tends to be less soluble than other sources such as ammonium sulfate.

Does gypsum raise alkalinity?

Does Your Soil Need Gypsum? – March 28, 2018 Jeff Schalau, Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Gypsum is a popular soil amendment in Arizona. However, there is a lot of misinformation out there about its use and effect on soils.

1. The most commonly, I hear people say gypsum improves soil structure.
2. This is true, but only under specific soil conditions.
3. I would contend that many northern Arizona gardeners receive little, if any, benefit by incorporating gypsum to their soil.
4. Lets learn more about gypsum so we can use it correctly and understand its effect on soil.

Gypsum is the common name for calcium sulfate, a very water-soluble form of calcium. This makes it a good source of plant-available calcium and sulfur. In most soils, calcium is primarily responsible for helping to hold clay particles together in clumps, clods, or peds (the term soil scientists use), thus ultimately creating good soil structure.

1. In most Arizona soils, the concentration of calcium in the soil is already high, so an application of gypsum has little or no effect.
2. Gypsum is most beneficial to soils where excess sodium is present.
3. Some water sources have naturally high levels of sodium and, when used for irrigation, will cause sodium to accumulate.

This is especially true when sodium containing irrigation water is not applied deeply and losses to evaporation are high. The first signs of this may be a white crust on the soil surface when it is dry. Over time, excess sodium causes clay in the soil to become dispersed.

When clay disperses, the individual clay particles are no longer held together in aggregates, thus allowing them to fill in spaces preventing water infiltration and percolation. Frequently, this layer of dispersed clay is so dense that the movement of water and oxygen is severely limited. In these situations, applications of gypsum can provide a dramatic improvement in returning the soil to a more permeable condition.

The calcium present in gypsum actually displaces the sodium and allows sodium to be leached deeper into the soil when accompanied by deep irrigation. In general, most soils in Yavapai County will not benefit from gypsum additions. If your soil drains well, then you probably do not have a sodium problem.

1. Conversely, if you observe very poor soil drainage that is not caused by compaction or an impenetrable soil layer (caliche), it is best to confirm the need for gypsum additions through a soil test.
2. The soil test parameters needed are sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and salinity (electrical conductivity or EC).

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension publication titled Using Gypsum and other Calcium Soil Amendments in Southwestern Soils (linked to the online edition) provides recommendations of amounts of gypsum to add based on SAR and EC. Gypsum applications have no effect on soil alkalinity because the sulfur is in the sulfate and will not significantly reduce the pH of the soil.

Only elemental sulfur (soil sulfur) or some other acidifying agent will reduce soil alkalinity. Acidification occurs when elemental sulfur and water chemically react to form sulfuric acid. The resulting effect is a slight acidification of the soil near the individual sulfur particles. This is a temporary effect so sulfur can be incorporated on a yearly basis in garden soils, flower beds, and other areas where alkaline soils may impact plant performance.

Agricultural lime is another calcium-containing soil amendment. The primary use of lime in gardening and agriculture is to raise soil pH (to reduce acidity). Unlike gypsum, lime solubility is dependent on soil pH. Its solubility increases in acid soils and decreases as soil pH increases.

When soil pH is above approximately 8.2, lime becomes very insoluble. Arizona soils rarely, if ever, benefit from lime applications. Sometimes gardeners add gypsum to treat blossom end rot: a disease of tomatoes and peppers caused by calcium deficiency. This is usually ineffective as calcium is rarely deficient in Arizona soils.

To minimize blossom end rot, avoid water stress by using infrequent, deep irrigation to keep the soil moist and avoid water stress at night. Use mulch to prevent wide fluctuations in soil moisture. Do not over-fertilize plants as higher nitrogen availability can decrease uptake of calcium.

Avoid injuring roots during cultivation near plants and do not overwater, especially in heavy clay soils. Blossom end rot is usually an early season problem and becomes less prevalent as the growing season progresses. See below for additional information. Follow the Backyard Gardener on Twitter use the link on the BYG website.

If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener help line in the Camp Verde office at 928-554-8992 or e-mail us at [email protected] and be sure to include your name, address and phone number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or provide feedback at the Backyard Gardener web site: http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/.

Additional Resources Using Gypsum and other Calcium Amendments in Southwestern Soils University of Arizona Cooperative Extension extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1413.pdf Texas A & M Soil Testing Lab Request the “R + Detailed Salinity” test on the submission form to get SAR and EC data.

soiltesting.tamu.edu/ Blossom End Rot Utah State University Cooperative Extension utahpests.usu.edu/ipm/agricultural/vegetable/blossom-end-rot Follow the Backyard Gardener on: Back to Backyard Gardener Home Page

How do you raise the pH in moonshine mash?

To raise or lower the pH of a Mash, additions of calcium carbonate (to raise pH) or calcium sulfate / calcium chloride (to lower pH) are recommended. –

Add ½ teaspoon at a time Mix well Recheck the pH after each addition

If these are not available, or if you are brewing with very soft water, then the addition of phosphoric acid can accomplish acidification of the mash. Teaspoon additions can be added incrementally until the desired pH is achieved. Another product available is called Mash Stabilizer,

Why do you add gypsum to grain?

Powdered gypsum is used to increase the pH in mushroom growing substrates such as grain, sawdust, coffee grounds and straw. It is also a yield enhancer as it supplies minerals and trace elements to the mycelium.

Does gypsum increase yield?

Therefore, gypsum application decreases Al toxicity to plants and increases crop grain yields as a result in NT soils with high Al saturation.

Why put gypsum in grain spawn?

Things You’ll Need –

Cereal Grain (preferably )5 Gallon Bucket or similar containerStove and large pot.Strainer or screen.Mason jars and polyfill. (or )Pressure Sterilizer.

Although the following method is a little labor intensive, it’s a foolproof way to get perfect grain spawn every time. Measure the desired amount of grain, keeping in mind that the rye will expand when moistened and be almost double its original size. The coffee changes the pH a bit and is thought to increase yield, while the gypsum is helpful to prevent the grains from sticking together. For ten jars, I like to use about a tablespoon of gypsum and a cup of coffee. Let the grains soak for 12 -24 hours. Cooking the grains will cause them to further swell and absorb water. It also softens them up substantially which allows for easier digestion by the mycelium. I like to bring the grains to a boil in a large pot and let them simmer for 10-15 minutes. Cooking them too long can cause many of the individual grains to crack open, which can increase the chances of contamination during incubation.

• Another reason for cooking the grains is so that they can dry by steaming off.
• Drain the boiling hot grains into a colander and shake it a number of times to let the steam evaporate.
• Follow this by spreading out the grains into a thin layer over a screen or towel.
• Allow the grains to dry for an hour or two.

When ready, they should have no noticeable moisture on the outside of the grain. Pick up a handful of grains to test. They should be loose individuals kernels, dry on the outside, and swollen with water on the inside. Now that your grains are dry, load them into your jars up to about 2/3-3/4 full. The jar lids should have a breathable filter to allow for gas exchange during incubation. This can be done in a number of ways. I like to simply drill a 1/4″ hole through the lid and pull a wad of synthetic pillow stuffing through the hole.

1. This will effectively stop contaminants but will allow the mycelium to breathe.
2. Another advantage of this method is that jars can be inoculated with a culture syringe by simply injecting directly through the pillow stuffing.
3. Another option is to drill a few holes in the lid and place a synthetic filter disc between the jar lid and the screw cap.

These discs are available through different sources online and are made to fit wide mouth or regular sized mason jars. I also like to place the lid on the jar upside down, meaning the metal side is against the glass and the rubber seal is facing up. This makes it easier when trying to open the lid in a sterile environment without having to pry it off with your fingers. Breathable lid for gas exchange. Tinfoil covered jars ready for sterilization. Sterilize for 90 minutes at 15 PSI. : How to Make Perfect Grain Spawn For Growing Mushrooms At Home – FreshCap Mushrooms

What does adding gypsum do?

February 6, 2019 – Susan V. Fisk Warren Dick has worked with gypsum for more than two decades. You’d think he’d be an expert on drywall and plastering because both are made from gypsum. But the use of gypsum that Dick studies might be unfamiliar to you: on farmland.

1. Gypsum is a good source of both calcium and sulfur, which crops need for good yields,” says Dick.
2. We also found that it improves many other soil characteristics.
3. Gypsum helps soil better absorb water and reduces erosion.
4. It also cuts down on phosphorus movement from soils to lakes and streams and improves the quality of various fruits and vegetables, among other benefits.” Gypsum is a mineral that is naturally found concentrated in various places and can be mined out of the ground.

But Dick’s research focuses on gypsum recovered from coal-fired electricity generating power plants. Gypsum that comes from coal plants is called flue-gas desulfurization gypsum, as it comes from the process that ‘scrubs’ sulfur out of the smoke stacks to reduce air pollution.

1. The gypsum that is recovered has good quality,” says Dick.
2. The gypsum particles are small and uniform in size making them quite reactive.
3. This can be a real benefit in agriculture.
4. We also determined that it is safe for agricultural use through many studies.
5. Reusing it for agricultural purposes, instead of putting it in landfills, provides multiple wins.” Gypsum is high in both calcium and sulfur.

In addition, the chemical formula of gypsum makes those nutrients more available to plants than some other common sources of these nutrients. Chemically speaking, gypsum is calcium sulfate, Its use is often confused with that of lime, which is calcium carbonate,

Gypsum will change soil pH very slightly, yet it can promote better root development of crops, especially in acid soils, even without a big pH change. This is because the gypsum counteracts the toxic effect of soluble aluminum on root development. Aluminum occurs naturally in soil and often isn’t a problem for crops.

But when soil becomes acidic, the aluminum is available to plants—and it can stunt or kill them. Another bonus of gypsum is that it is a moderately-soluble mineral. This means the calcium can move further down into the soil than the calcium from lime (calcium carbonate).

This can inhibit aluminum uptake at depth and promote deeper rooting of plants. When roots are more abundant and can grow deeper into the soil profile, they can take up more water and nutrients, even during the drier periods of a growing season. Although moderately soluble, gypsum can be an excellent source of sulfur over several growing seasons.

Research found that the sulfur is available not only in the year applied, but can continue to supply sulfur for one or two years after, depending on the initial application rate. Gypsum as a sulfur fertilizer has benefitted corn, soybean, canola, and alfalfa.

1. Gypsum can also help improve soil structure.
2. Many of us look at soil as a uniform, static substance.
3. In reality, soil is a mixture of inorganic particles, organic particles, and a complex mixture of pore spaces, water, and soil microbes.
4. Its composition changes through weather events like rainstorms, by tillage, or as plants pull nutrients for growth.

Farmers have to manage their soil well in order to maintain good crop yields year after year. Improving soil structure helps farmers with some common agricultural problems. Adding gypsum to the soil reduces erosion by increasing the ability of soil to soak up water after precipitation, thus reducing runoff.

1. Gypsum application also improves soil aeration and water percolation through the soil profile.
2. A recent study showed the benefit of gypsum application to improve movement of water through the profile to tile drains.
3. It also reduces phosphorus movement out of the field.
4. No matter what solutions farmers are trying to implement when using gypsum, they have several options for application.

Of course, the type of application method will be determined by the reasons to use gypsum. Finely crushed gypsum can be dissolved in irrigation water and applied that way. Farmers can take gypsum and apply it to the topsoil prior to planting or right after harvest.

It can also be applied to hay fields after hay cutting. If tilling is needed (again, dependent on the soil conditions), gypsum can be worked into the soil with the tilling equipment. Although gypsum has been used in agriculture for more than 250 years, the benefits it provides are still being studied.

In addition, the re-use of gypsum by-products from coal power plants reduces the need to mine gypsum from geologic deposits. It also saves landfill space. Gypsum can’t solve every agricultural problem, but it is a proven resource to add nutrients and improve soil structure.

It’s a great example of recycling a waste product and using it in a beneficial way,” Dick says. Dick, Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University, presented “Crop and Environmental Benefits of Gypsum as a Soil Amendment” at the November 2018 meeting of the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America.

The meeting abstract and recorded presentation can be found here. Research funding was obtained from a variety of federal, state, and commercial sources.