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The use of gypsum as a soil amendment has been around for more than 250 years due to its many characteristics that help soil chemistry. Soil amendments, like gypsum, are undervalued in comparison to fertilizer usage, but the bottom line is it will not matter the amount of fertilizer applied to a lawn, the plants will not be able to access key nutrients essential for growth if the soil is compacted or the chemistry is compromised. But why gypsum? Let’s take a look into what gypsum is and its benefits to soil as well as when and why applying it to your lawn can improve turf health, appearance and the efficiency of nutrient uptake.
BUT WAIT! WHAT IS GYPSUM?
Pelletized Gypsum (calcium sulfate) removes sodium in soil and replaces it with calcium and sulfur, which are essential macronutrients not typically applied during fertilization which help boost plant health. Gypsum works great at loosening compact clay soil by pulling particles together creating porous spaces for air, water and plant roots. Gypsum also increases water storage and reduces erosion. This amendment is great for any soil type since it will improve soil structure while not altering pH. Gypsum is a moderately, soluble source, that performs in all three categories of soil treatment: a conditioner, a nutrient provider and an amendment.
- TIP: Gypsum is a perfect soil amendment to use against salt damage from winter.
Conditioner
Gypsum improves compacted soil by breaking it up, increasing water infiltration rates, reducing erosion losses of important plant nutrients as well as soluble phosphorus water run-off.
Nutrient provider
No, gypsum is not a true fertilizer that provides needed N-P-K levels for plants, but rather helps plants by introducing calcium and sulfur, essential macronutrients not typically applied during normal fertilization methods, to help soil perform better by enhancing nutrient availability and improving soil structure. Gypsum also improves utilization of calcium, magnesium, potassium and other cations
difficult to consume from the soil.
Amendment
Gypsum
amends soil aggregation by preventing dispersion of soil particles, reducing surface crust formation and compaction; promoting deep rooting and seeding emergence as well as amending sodic soil reclamation.
WHY APPLY GYPSUM?
Fertilizing is just not enough when preparing and managing a lawn’s health. Although fertilizer helps put needed macronutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus
and Potassium
back into soil for plant uptake, soil amendments like gypsum are necessary to make the nutrients you apply available to the plant as well as adding critical macronutrients to your soil.
BENEFITS OF GYPSUM
- Replenishes calcium and sulfur which are essential macronutrients not typically applied during fertilization
- Can be used on all soil types, improves soil structure but will not alter pH
- Reduces compacted clay soils allowing nutrients and water to be accessible to the plant
- Removes sodium (salt toxicity, great for ice melt damage and coastal areas)
- Assists in temperature and drought hardiness
- Increases water storage and reduces erosion
HOW DO I KNOW I NEED GYPSUM?
If your soil is compacted, deficient in calcium and sulfur, or suffering from salt toxicity, gypsum is the solution for you. A soil test is recommended in order to better understand macronutrient deficiencies, base saturation levels (percentage of nutrient holding sites occupied by cation), as well as, soil salt toxicity and overall soil chemistry. Testing the soil is also helpful when applying gypsum applications in order to determine appropriate rates of application. Review all label instruction before applying.
- NOTE: When looking at soil test results, you want the soil’s target saturation levels for the macronutrients Calcium to be: 70-80% and for Magnesium to be: 10-13%.
WHEN CAN I APPLY IT?
Since Gypsum can be used on any soil type because it does not alter the soil pH level, you don’t have to balance your pH level before applying. Also, since Gypsum is not a fertilizer, it can be used before or after a fertilizer application, anytime of the season.
WHAT PRODUCT SHOULD I USE?
TurfCare™ has a great gypsum product that gets the results you need and more! They offer an enhanced pelletized Gypsum product powered by AMP-XC™
with Humic and Iron. This enhanced product includes not only Gypsum, but also a protein hydrolysate (AMP-XC™), concentrated organic materials (Humic) and the most important element involved in greening (Iron). This powerful combination of ingredients activates the benefits of gypsum along with several beneficial biological and environmental responses in the plant and soil and greatly improves the health and lush green appearance of turf.
JARGON
- Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC): The measurement of the soil’s ability to hold positively charged ions, influencing soil structure stability, nutrient availability, soil pH and reaction to fertilizers as well as other ameliorants.
- Sodicity: the amount of sodium held in a soil; sodium is a cation (positive ion) that is held loosely on clay particles in soil. When sodium makes up more than about 5% of all cations bound to clay particles, structural problems begin to occur, and the soil is said to be sodic (Chapter D5. Sodic soil management, nsw.gov)
For professional fertilizers, humic and AMP-XC™ enriched products available, please visit TurfCare’s online Product Catalog.
For green industry professionals or others interested in ordering Turfcare products, please contact our Customer Service
to find a distributor near you.
References:
https://www.usagypsum.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/AMI-tech-general.pdf
http://www.gypsoil.com/news-and-events/gypsum-and-lime
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/127278/Sodic-soil-management.pdf
https://www.southlandorganics.com/blogs/news/17989176-what-is-soil-conditioner
https://www.fertilesoilsolutions.com/soilwater-science/the-role-of-gypsum-in-agriculture/
http://www.cmtmi.com/gypsum.asp
Chen, Liming, David Kost, and Warren A. Dick. “Gypsum as an Agricultural Amendment.” The Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 945 (2011). pp. 1464-1470.
https://fabe.osu.edu/sites/fabe/files/imce/files/Soybean/Gypsum%20Bulletin.pdf
Turf Care Supply - TurfReport Blog
Platte River Equity Portfolio Company Turf Care Supply, LLC Acquires Agri-Nutrients, Inc. Brunswick, OH , October 9, 2024 – Platte River Equity (“Platte River”) portfolio company Turf Care Supply, LLC (“Turf Care”) is pleased to announce its acquisition of Agri-Nutrients, Inc. (“Agri-Nutrients”), a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the turf & ornamental (“T&O”) industry. This strategic acquisition provides Turf Care with an established presence in the south-central United States, an enhanced product portfolio and additional manufacturing capacity. “This acquisition represents much more than a business transaction; it is a strategic step forward in expanding our reach and enhancing our customers’ growth. By bringing Agri-Nutrients into the Turf Care family, we are broadening our product portfolio, expanding our market presence and further positioning ourselves as a leader in providing innovative solutions for our customers,” said Mark Mangan, President of Turf Care. “We are excited about joining the Turf Care team,” said Jim Montgomery, President of Agri-Nutrients. “At Agri-Nutrients, our core values center around customer service and product innovation, and we are confident that this combination will allow us to better serve the needs of our customers.” “Platte River welcomes the Agri-Nutrients team to Turf Care. This transaction underscores our long-term commitment to fostering growth through both organic and inorganic initiatives across the Turf Care platform,” said Tarun Kanthety, Vice President of Platte River. “The partnership with Agri-Nutrients strengthens Turf Care’s value-added offering, creating additional growth opportunities across the combined customer base.” B&A Corporate Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to Agri-Nutrients. About Agri-Nutrients Founded in 1992 and based in Catoosa, OK, Agri-Nutrients is a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the T&O industry, predominantly selling into the lawn care, sports turf and golf course end markets. About Turf Care Supply Established in 1974, Turf Care Supply is one of the largest formulators and blenders of urea products to the T&O market. Turf Care has a comprehensive product portfolio of fertilizers, combination products (herbicide/insecticide), soil amendments and enhanced efficiency fertilizer ingredients. Turf Care's products are sold to distributors and blenders serving the commercial, residential and golf end markets. Turf Care operates four manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the eastern U.S. About Platte River Equity Founded in 2006 and based in Denver, CO, Platte River Equity is a private equity firm focused on investments in established lower middle market operating companies within targeted industrial sectors where it has substantial operating and investing experience. Platte River utilizes prudent capital structures in order to invest in future growth opportunities and withstand changing economic environments. The firm also provides significant ongoing support to its portfolio companies through dedicated resources across functional areas. The firm has raised funds with committed capital in excess of $1.6 billion and is currently investing out of its fifth fund. The Platte River team is the largest collective investor across its funds, deeply aligning the firm with its investors and portfolio company management teams.
Dear Valued Industry Partners and Customers, We are pleased to announce that Turf Care Supply, LLC has acquired Agri-Nutrients, Inc. (October 1, 2024) a respected manufacturer in the turf and ornamental fertilizer industry. This acquisition marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing you with an expanded range of innovative products, services, and industry expertise, all designed to support your business’s continued growth and success. As a valued partner or customer, you will benefit from enhanced service capabilities and an extended geographic reach, thanks to Agri-Nutrients, Inc.’s strategic facility located in the Port of Catoosa, Oklahoma. With this established presence in the Southwest and Western markets, Turf Care Supply, LLC’s expanded operational footprint will allow us to serve a broader region with greater efficiency, delivering even stronger support to help drive your business forward. We are dedicated to ensuring a seamless transition while maintaining the high standards of service you expect. If you have any questions or would like to explore how this new location can enhance your operations, please feel free to contact your account manager or our customer service team. Thank you for your continued trust in Turf Care Supply, LLC. We look forward to partnering with you as we grow together and continue supporting your success. Sincerely, Mark Mangan President Turf Care Supply, LLC
With a focus on providing sustainable manufacturing and reducing carbon emissions, Turf Care Supply has embraced the electric power market with the latest mobile equipment upgrades. Completed in June 2023, TCS received all deliveries of electric forklifts to all three manufacturing facilities, including Hatfield, MA, Martins Ferry, OH and Sebring, FL.