Gypsum on high Mag clay?

[milkloss]

Apologies for a simple question, but what does gypsum do to high mag soil’s?

As far as I know when the balance of ca:mg tips towards mg then the soil will become 'tight'. I think we have this problem and would also be interested to know more.

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

As far as I know when the balance of ca:mg tips towards mg then the soil will become 'tight'. I think we have this problem and would also be interested to know more.

Think the technical term is it helps soil flocculation , basically loosen tight soil to help drainage and root structure. We've tried it as although we aren't on heavy clay we do have some magnesium problems which we believe has helped to cause a pan in some fields and liquid gypsum seemed like a better idea than paying a contractor to drag expensive steel through the ground

 

[Renaultman]

Apologies for a simple question, but what does gypsum do to high mag soil’s?

The Calcium in the gypsum stops the clay locking Potash up and makes the soil easier to work, in a nutshell.

 

[clemmo]

Think the technical term is it helps soil flocculation , basically loosen tight soil to help drainage and root structure. We've tried it as although we aren't on heavy clay we do have some magnesium problems which we believe has helped to cause a pan in some fields and liquid gypsum seemed like a better idea than paying a contractor to drag expensive steel through the ground

keen to know how a few litres is going to influence 2t/ha of top soil ?

 

[bovrill]

100t/acre of the coarsest recycled stuff you can get works wonders.
Not that I'd know anyone that did that!
And even if I did, it would have been nearly 20 years ago, and still breaking down the lumps and doing good.

 

[teslacoils]

I'd put it on with a bulldozer if I could.

 

[Renaultman]

Stuff we are getting now is ultra fine, so aiming for a little bit everywhere which keeps me out of the naughty boys corner.

 

[PSQ]

100t/acre of the coarsest recycled stuff you can get works wonders.
Not that I'd know anyone that did that!
And even if I did, it would have been nearly 20 years ago, and still breaking down the lumps and doing good.

Was it not York from Germany that used to give coded warnings about it in riddles, that if you use too much “you will find out what the problem with gypsum is”?
Every time he was asked what the problem was he just gave the above answer

 

[Renaultman]

Was it not York from Germany that used to give coded warnings about it in riddles, that if you use too much “you will find out what the problem with gypsum is”?
Every time he was asked what the problem was he just gave the above answer

Oh I miss York's wisdom

 

[ajd132]

Make sure you are actually on high mag clay. There seems to be some kind of badge of honour with people banging on about how much ”high mag clay” they have. We realised that high calcium is by far a bigger problem for us than magnesium on our clay, which gypsum will make worse. Despite the advice of some “experts” over the years.

 

[Try to succeed]

Has anyone managed to source any gypsum economically this season? What should one expect to pay per ton?

 

[teslacoils]

Has anyone managed to source any gypsum economically this season? What should one expect to pay per ton?

No.

 

[Try to succeed]

No.

What would you call an acceptable price? I believe they used to tip it FOC?

 

[teslacoils]

What would you call an acceptable price? I believe they used to tip it FOC?

Yes, they did.

I suppose the question is a bit like the digestate question - given a gate fee, and industry recycling mandates, should we get paid to take it?

Personally, I think the cost of hauliage is all I'd really want to pay. Plus spreading. Already makes it a tenner per ton for a fairly tricky to quantify benefit. Because at 2t/ha or whatever the EA specifies, you may as well not bother. 20t/ha more like it.

And there will be someone else who values it more than that for sure. But i don't.

 

[Fish]

Make sure you are actually on high mag clay. There seems to be some kind of badge of honour with people banging on about how much ”high mag clay” they have. We realised that high calcium is by far a bigger problem for us than magnesium on our clay, which gypsum will make worse. Despite the advice of some “experts” over the years.

oop north we know all about i mag clay, we’ve all bought that t shirt.
High calcium clay, absolute luxury.

 

[cows r us]

Make sure you are actually on high mag clay. There seems to be some kind of badge of honour with people banging on about how much ”high mag clay” they have. We realised that high calcium is by far a bigger problem for us than magnesium on our clay, which gypsum will make worse. Despite the advice of some “experts” over the years.

I agree. I thought we had high mag clay and was ready to coat it in gypsum. After having it tested I realised it was actually high calcium that was the issue.

 

[l'ordinary bonville]

Mag indices of 6-7

gypsum has been welcomed here for about 12 years

 

[Huno]

Make sure you are actually on high mag clay. There seems to be some kind of badge of honour with people banging on about how much ”high mag clay” they have. We realised that high calcium is by far a bigger problem for us than magnesium on our clay, which gypsum will make worse. Despite the advice of some “experts” over the years.

Buy a hydroponic vertical farm.. also known as a multi story carpark... once you have bought it..employ a farmer with hydroponic specialist knowledge!!

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Apologies for a simple question, but what does gypsum do to high mag soil’s?

I think pH is a function of Calcium and Magnesium, if the pH is fine but the ratio of Mg to Ca is too high, this will cause the soil to be hard. You can't put lime on to alter the ratio as this would alter the pH, but you can put Gypsum on to alter the Calcium Mg ratio without making the soil too alkaline. Anyone who knows correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Huno]

I think pH is a function of Calcium and Magnesium, if the pH is fine but the ratio of Mg to Ca is too high, this will cause the soil to be hard. You can't put lime on to alter the ratio as this would alter the pH, but you can put Gypsum on to alter the Calcium Mg ratio without making the soil too alkaline. Anyone who knows correct me if I am wrong.

There is no chalk left in Wales because it washed down the English rivers as ICE..years ago... any chance of swapping what we do have??