Return to Amendements

Gypsum as a Soil Amendment to Improve Soil Conditions, Moisture Infiltration, and Crop Yields for Asotin County Sodic Soils

To test the effectiveness of the soil amendment gypsum in improving moisture infiltration, surface texture, soil quality parameters, and crop yields for sodic soil conditions.

Location: Silcott
Annual precipitation: 12 inches
Soil: Weissenfels-Nims Silt Loam 3-8%
Rotation: Winter wheat-fallow

Check - no gypsum application
Gypsum at 1\2 T/ac
Gypsum at 1 T/ac

The plots were chiseled with sweep points in the fall of 1992 for Russian thistle control. Sprayed May 7 with 12 oz Roundup^RT + 2 oz Banvel + AmSulfate @ 10 gpa. Fertilized May with 72 lb N and 10 lb S per acre. Rodweeded in June and July. The gypsum was applied during the summer fallow period in 1993. All plots were cultivated to incorporate the gypsum which was applied with a 40 foot barber-type spreader. The plot size was 44' wide and 500 to 805' long. Seeded in early October to Stephens at 60 lb/ac with 12" hoe drills. In March flew on weed control: .25 oz Finesse, 3 oz Lexone + 1.6 oz M-90. Harvested on July 12.

Winter wheat yields, bu/ac

Treatment	Rep 1	Rep 2	Rep 3	Average
Check	29.8	24.8	20.6	25.1a
1/2 ton/ac	28.0	27.1	22.4	25.8a
1 ton/ac	27.5	25.8	22.7	25.3a
LSD (5%)				3.0
CV				5.3%

Conclusion

Droughty conditions prohibited movement of gypsum into soil profile. No yield response was observed as a result of the applied gypsum. More time is needed to assess soil quality and crop improvement changes due to gypsum additive.

Contact us: Hans Kok, (208)885-5971 | Accessibility | Copyright | Policies | WebStats | STEEP Acknowledgement
Hans Kok, WSU/UI Extension Conservation Tillage Specialist, UI Ag Science 231, PO Box 442339, Moscow, ID 83844 USA Redesigned by Leila Styer, CAHE Computer Resource Unit; Maintained by Debbie Marsh, Dept. of Crop & Soil Sciences, WSU