Natural organic fertilizers and soil enhancers have gained popularity over the past several decades due to the growing importance of agronomy and overall sustainable farming practices. Still, agricultural gypsum has been used by farmers worldwide for centuries. This soil-enhancing solution has numerous benefits for crops, including rebalancing vital crop nutrients and enrichment.
At Norstar Agriculture, we offer our in-house, comprehensive gypsum solution: NOR-Gyp. NOR-Gyp contains high-quality gypsum, 22% calcium, and 14% sulphur. Keep reading to find out more about agricultural gypsum’s role in agriculture and several of its key benefits.
What is Agricultural Gypsum?
Agricultural gypsum is a cornerstone of sustainable, natural farming measures. This all-natural soil enhancer is made from calcium sulphate dihydrate, a mineral commonly found in caves and mines. Gypsum is water soluble once spread atop soil, with an application rate of ~500-1200 lbs/acre. Agricultural gypsum doesn’t affect soil pH and instead assists in soil remediation by increasing available mineral properties through absorption.
Gypsum’s Role in Agronomy
Gypsum provides comprehensive benefits to strengthen and recondition arable farmland throughout the prairies. Unlike some traditional soil enhancers, agricultural gypsum’s natural composition ensures it’s safe to use long-term and is entirely non-toxic. Gypsum is an efficient-acting solution to overall soil issues, including bare spots and compaction issues, only needing to be reapplied every 3-4 years.
Restoring Nutrients
One key benefit of agricultural gypsum is its ability to increase soil nutrient absorption and uptake. Naturally high in calcium and sulphur, agricultural gypsum replaces sodium ions with calcium ones. This exchange of ions effectively neutralizes soil structure and creates a more nourishing environment for nutrient uptake. Calcium is essential for building crop cell walls, promoting strong overall growth and disease protection.
On the other hand, sulphur is a key component for helping crops synthesize proteins and amino acids. This macronutrient is necessary for the biostasis stability of proteins and helps facilitate key microbial activities. Without sufficient sulphur, crops cannot produce vital cysteine and methionine amino acids, which can devastate crop yields and overall quality.
Revitalizing Soil with Gypsum
The dry and unpredictable prairie climates in Alberta and Saskatchewan can create challenges like soil erosion and salinity imbalances to run rampant year-round. If you’ve noticed patches of white-looking soil in your fields, your soil may be experiencing salinity issues. Dry environments like the Canadian prairies are susceptible to salinity unbalancing, where salt-containing water is pushed up from deep soil underlayers to the surface. Once the water evaporates, the visible salt residue is left. Agricultural gypsum helps disperse these salt deposits.
Soil compaction can also be detrimental to crops if not dealt with, leading to the overall loss of arable soil structure. When soil becomes too dense, water and essential nutrients cannot penetrate the crop’s roots efficiently. Seeds may also have more difficulty germinating and sprouting. Soil remediation with gypsum effectively creates air pockets, enriching the soil structure.
Healthier Canadian Prairie Soil
Proudly Canadian, Norstar Agriculture is your local solution for sustainable soil testing and remediation in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Contact us today to learn more about our gold-standard products and how we can help revitalize your farmland before the upcoming growing season.
