Gypsum - The World’s Best Soil Conditioner
Gypsum is a mineral composed of calcium sulphate which is mined at several mine sites throughout South Africa. The rock is crushed into a fine powder ideal for application in an easy one-step process that provides a cheap organic material with a litany of benefits to agriculture.
The Farmer’s Best Friend
One of the key factors of agricultural gypsum is it primes and conditions the wide variety of soil types inherent in South Africa without affecting the pH balance of the soil. In short, gypsum is considered to be a farmer’s best friend and is essential for the sustainability of soils.
Regular use of gypsum not only prevents and corrects salinity and sodicity in the soil, problems which typically arise when soils are over irrigated; it can actually transform the physical make-up or constituency of certain soil types, thereby optimising plant growth and increasing crop yields.
Large Reserves of Gypsum South Africa
South Africa is particularly fortunate to have large, natural reserves of gypsum that are spread across the country. Crop and livestock farmers are therefore able to access gypsum South Africa without too much time, effort or additional cost.
Benefits of Agricultural Gypsum.
Amongst the long list of advantages associated with the application of agricultural gypsum are:
- It changes the structure and fertility of heavy, water-logged clay soils
- It removes excess levels of sodium in the soil and replaces it with calcium, an essential plant nutrient
- It detoxifies soils by leaching out dangerous levels of aluminium typical in acid soils
- It prevents soil surface crusting, thereby aiding the development and emergence of seedlings
- It optimises plant growth by breaking up heavily compacted soils
- It enables easier tilling of slightly wet soils
- It prevents soils from becoming water logged by improving drainage
- It stabilises soil aggregates by introducing calcium which binds organic matter to clay
- It can increase water retention on sodic soils
- As a natural source of calcium, it optimises earthworm growth and activity essential for improved soil aggregation and the aeration and mixing of the soil
- It arrests the build up of clay particles on tubers, roots and bulbs of vegetable crops
- The calcium content of gypsum improves the quality of fruit
- It’s a natural disease buster, preventing and controlling the incidence of root rot in avocado pear trees, blossom end-rot in watermelons and tomatoes and bitter pit in apples
Where to Find Quality Gypsum Suppliers Online
SA Lime and Gypsum (PTY) Ltd is the only national supplier of quality lime and gypsum products mined in South Africa. Strategically placed mine sites and depots enable SAKG to deliver top quality agricultural gypsum to farmers throughout the nation.
Browse the SAKG website now for detailed information on the vast product range via individual product data sheets, or to contact SAKG online.
