STRATEGIC USE OF GYPSUM WITH FARMERS

TO REDUCE NUTRIENT LOADING

Ron Chamberlain, GYPSOIL Division of Beneficial Reuse Management

Topics
2

Background Gypsum Soil Issues Research Soil Biology Results Testimonials

Background

Water Quality
4

What is quality of water in the U.S.

45% of river miles are impaired 47% of lake acres, 32% of estuarine water is impaired.

Agriculture is considered a major contributor to water quality

Phosphorus loss from agriculture

Green Bay
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Lake Erie
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The Gulf of Mexico

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Dispersed Soils Erode

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Gypsum
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Increases soil structural stability Reduces soil crusting Improves water infiltration/conductivity Reduces erosion

What is Gypsum?
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Gypsum

CaSO4.2H2O Calcium Sulfate DiHydrate Calcium 20% Sulfate Sulfur 16%

Analysis

1 Ton

Calcium 400# Sulfate Sulfur 320#

Metals Concentrations
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Soil Problems
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Slow water infiltration Ponding Surface sealing Erosion of soil, nutrients, pesticides, etc. Poor rooting Nutrient deficiencies Lower soil productivity vs. potential

Cause
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Dispersed soil structure (compacted)

Texture (clay & silt) Deficient calcium Excess magnesium, aluminum, sodium Lime Tillage Manure

Solution
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Restore Good Soil Structure

Increase water infiltration rates Increase biological activity Increase efficiency of mineral fertilizer Improve long term, sustainable soil quality Increase crop production efficiency

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Soil Structure

Soil Makeup
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5% 25% 25%

Mineral Matter
45%

Air

Soil Structure
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Dispersed

Flocculated

Bad vs. Good Soil Structure

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Water

Dispersed (Bad)

Flocculated (Good)
Clay particle

Mg2+ Ca2+

Gypsum Turns Bad Into Good

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CaSO4 + water
Ca2+ + SO42Clay particle Mg2+ Ca2+

MgSO4g

Qualified Soils
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Research

Research
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Better water infiltration, less erosion

70
-1

Infiltration, mm h

50 40 30 20 10 0 0 20

Blount Mg

Soil loss, kg m-2 h-1

60

Blount Ca

0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0

Blount Ca Blount Mg

40

60

20

40

60

Run time, min

Run time, min

Research
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Effect of Gypsum on Erosion and P Loss

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Control Gypsum

Runoff (mm) Soil Loss (g/10 sq m) SRP (mg/sq m)

Research
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Concentration (mg l-1) of N-NH4+, N-NO3- and dissolved reactive P-PO4-3 in runoff

Flocculated vs. Dispersed

25

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Balancing Soils

Nutrients Cling to Clay and OM

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Available to plants measured on the soil test

A Balanced Soil
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Exchangeable elements
Calcium Magnesium Potassium Hydrogen Phosphorus Sulfur

Balanced
70-85% 10-13% 2-5% 1-10%

Typical

Deficient Excessive Low* High Low Low

Non-exchangeable elements
25-100 lbs. 25-300 lbs.

*High rates applied annually

Balanced Calcium Helps Soil Drain

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0.5 0.4

Water Infiltration (inches/hr)

0.3 0.2 0.1 0

33%

41%

61%

74%

% Calcium

Gypsum Helps Soil Drain Better

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Better Drainage
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Biological Systems Role

Healthy Soil Biology

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Healthy Soil Biology

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Jobs

Break down organic residue Build soil structure Mineralize nutrients Energy Moisture Food source (organic residue) Good soil environment Oxygen

Needs

COMPOSITION of SOILS
FOR 1 PLOW ACRE 6b INCHES IN DEPTH APPROXIMATELY 2,000,000 LBS. OR 1,000 TONS
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SANDY LOAM

SILT LOAM
POUNDS / ACRE

CLAY LOAM
POUNDS / ACRE

Soils are generally composed of thousands of crop years worth of fertilizer nutrients

ELEMENTS
Organic Matter LBS. Of Nitrogen Live Portion*

POUNDS / ACRE

20,000= 1,340 1,000

54,000= 3,618 3,600

96,000= 6,432 4,000

(*Earthworms, Bacteria, Fungi, Actinomycetes, etc.)

Silicon Dioxide Aluminum Oxide Iron Oxide

1,905,000 22,600 17,000

1,570,000 190,000 60,000

1,440,000 240,000 80,000

Calcium Oxide Magnesium Oxide

5,400 4,000

6,800 10,400

26,000 17,000

Potash Phosphate

2,600 400

35,000 5,200

40,000 10,000

What Drives Soil Nutrient Release?

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Total Supply parent material (or applied) Moisture rain fed or irrigation pH Oxygen Microbial activity

Nutrient Release Driven by healthy plant growth and microbial activity

Begins with good soil structure (built by gypsum)

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Results

Jack Maloney, Brownsburg, IN

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2,600-acre corn and soybean no-till operation Started applying gypsum in 2002 Improved soil structure, water infiltration Better soil and water quality Improved yields, lower production costs

Crop Results, Jack Maloney

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320 acre field 5th year gypsum Corn

Soil Profile Results

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Improved

Soil structure Water infiltration Crop rooting

Soil Biology Moving Down

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Improved

Sub soil structure Water infiltration Crop Rooting Soil biology migration

Soil Biology Moving Down

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Improved

Sub soil structure Water infiltration Crop Rooting Soil biology migration Organic matter migration

Crop Roots Follow Soil Biology

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Improved

Sub soil structure Water infiltration Soil biology migration Organic matter migration Deeper crop rooting

Production Results
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Improved yields overall and during stress

Soil Input Results

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320 Acre Field Fertilizer Input Reduction (50 tons) Phosphate (11-52-0) 138#/a Less Potash (0-0-60) 179#/a Less

Financial Results
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Testimonials

Rodney Rulon, Arcadia, IN

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6,000 acre corn and soybean no-till operation Started applying gypsum in problem fields 5 years ago, expanded to 3,000 acres in 2010 Sees improved water infiltration there

Rodney Rulon, Arcadia, IN

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Keeping water for the plant has a benefit to the yield.And fertilizer is terribly expensive -there is no reason to let it leave our farm.

Miller Farms, Oconomowoc, WI

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3,500-acre cash grain, no-till operation plus pasture-raised livestock Started applying gypsum in 2009 Less water ponding Less compaction problems in tight clay soils Saw soybean yields increase 15-20 bu./acre after single application

Luke, Nick and Robert Miller

Conclusion
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Gypsum
A foundation tool Applied according to recommendations will

Improve soil structure, Improve water infiltration, Enhance soil biology, Help reduce nutrient loading into watersheds Improve crop production efficiency