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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Use of Gypsum

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  • From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Use of Gypsum
  • Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2007 07:16:44 -0500

...suggests applying 10-40T/a of
limestone. Supposedly the 60-100 mesh limestone adds calcium, improves
tilth and crop quality. The effects on tilth seem to be similar to that
of gypsum - breaking of clay clods - decreased crusting.

Limestone is primarily calcium carbonate, usually around 80-90% calcium. Any size mesh will add calcium. Mesh size is just a rough indicator of how quickly the limestone will have a mass effect on the soil chemistry. It's effect is to supply an essential plant nutrient, calcium, and to alter the soil pH. It won't have the same effect as gypsum on clay because it doesn't have the sulfate ion.

40 tons per acre of limestone is a huge rate. Even 10 tons is high if your goal is to amend soil pH. Most farmers will apply 1-2 tons per acre every 3-4 years. In the Midwest our loamy prairie soils tend to have low pH so adding limestone (ag lime) is routine for managing proper soil pH. It comes from gravel quarries where they reserve the finer, almost powder-like materials for ag lime. Not very complicated really.

Bill Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
University of Illinois - St Charles Horticulture Research Center
www.nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html




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