Market Farming

[Steve Diver <steved AT ipa.net>]

There are a couple of excellent books and reference manuals 
on gypsum and related soil amendments from Wallace Laboratories 
in California.  
 
Wallace Laboratories 
http://www.bettersoils.com
 
For gypsum papers and references, particularly see the
Wallace book titled "Soil Conditioner and Amendment 
Technologies, Volume I". 

It is one of my favorite reference manuals containing 
articles on gypsum, organic matter, compost, and soil 
conditioners. 
 
For example, see:  
 
"Gypsum is Almost a Universal Soil Amendment" 
"Economic Values of Gypsum" 
"Uses of Gypsum on Acid Soils" 
"Calcium in Gypsum is Also a Plant Nutrient" 
"Use of Gypsum vs More Soluble Calcium Compounds" 
"The Gypum, Organic Matter, Polymer Triangle" 

See the Publication Order Form for this book for a 
list of topics and article titles, and how to purchase.
http://www.bettersoils.com/downloads/scatbro1.pdf

"Handbook of Soil Conditioners" published by Marcel Decker
and edited by Arthur Wallace, is another source. It can be 
found in an ag college library.   

The bottomline with soil amendments is affordable products
and "shipping" costs.  It depends on an available source in
your region. 

Gypsum can be a good soil amendment for flocculating clayey 
soils or to reduce sodium content (in westerly climes), but 
you also need to build soil organic matter with composts and 
cover crops and so forth.   

Steve Diver



>From: Jay Atkerson <jay AT mcreccwb.com>
>
>I read conflicting research regarding the use of gypsum as a soil 
>amendment,  Perhaps the conflict lies in the amount of sodium in the 
>soil, but I know little about sodium content in soil.
>
>West Coast data indicate there is no value in the use of gypsum to 
>tillable soil but I live in eastern US (South Central Kentucky-Zone 6B) 
>and recently saw a local TV Gardening show where a commercial vegetable 
>farmer was praising the use of gypsum.  (To break up clay soil)
>
>Does gypsum change the pH of soil and what amounts do you apply if 
>indeed it is advisable to use gypsum?  Is there a preferred time of year 
>for its application?
>
>Finally, in an related matter, I have access to large rolls of spoiled 
>hay.  I'm looking for a "Hay unroller", (Attached to a tractor three 
>point hitch) to use as mulch between garden rows.  Does anyone know of 
>this use and where can I get this device?
>
>Jay