GYPSUM AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF SOIL PROPERTIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Mart Farina Consultant - Omnia East Coast

farina@netfocus.co.za

INTRODUCTION
Intend to
Set scene geographically Discuss Malcolm Sumners work on remediation of saline and sodic soils with gypsum Briefly highlight the start of acid-subsoil amelioration research with gypsum Describe long-term effects of gypsum and deep incorporation of lime on subsoil acidity in KwaZulu-Natal

Schulze, R.E. and Lynch, S.D. 2007. Annual Precipitation. In: Schulze, R.E. (Ed). 2007. South African Atlas of Climatology and Agrohydrology. Water Research Commission, Pretoria, RSA, WRC Report 1489/1/06, Section 6.2.

Mean Annual Precipitation

Median pHKCl

Acid Saturation

Reclamation of Sodic Soils

Saline/Sodic Alfisol in Swaziland

80 ha field Split equally between Control and Gypsum Initial (with depth) EC 10-16 dS/m ESP 13-30 Pipe drains installed @ 1.2 m in 1971 Gypsum applied @ 20 t/ha in 1972 Bunds built around area and flooded for 9 months to leach salts 2 crops of rice planted in 1972/73 Sugarcane planted in 1974 Plant and 6 ratoons

Effect of Gypsum on EC and ESP at End of Trial

Electrical conductivity (dS/m)
0 0.5 1 1.5 0

Exchangeable sodium (ESP) (%)

5 10 15 20

15

15

Control Gypsum

Depth (cm)

Control Gypsum

105

Depth (cm)
105

Effect of Gypsum on Sugarcane Yield

140 130 Control Gypsum

Sugarcane yield (T/ha)

120 110 100 90

80
70 60 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Mean

Year

Conclusions
Gypsum
Reduced EC and ESP down profile Soil reclaimed Increased yields particularly towards the end of trial Stable yields for last 5 years

Saline/Sodic Alfisol in kwaZuluNatal

Pipe drains installed @ 0.85 m in 1970 Gypsum @ 20 t/ha applied in 1971 Leaching by rainfall and irrigation Sugarcane planted in 1974 Plant and 1 ratoon

Effect of Gypsum on ECse and ESP in Subsoil over Time

14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1970 25

Eaxcangeable Sodium (ESP) (%)

Electrical conductivity (dS/m)

20

Control

Gypsum

15
Control Gypsum

10

1972

1974

1976

1978

0 1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

Year

Year

Effect of Gypsum on Dispersible Silt+Clay and Infiltration Rate

Dispersible silt+clay (%)
0 20 40 60 16 14 7.5 Control Infiltration rate (mm/hr) Gypsum 12 10 8 6 4 50 2

Control Gypsum

Depth (cm)

25

Effect of Gypsum on Cane and Sucrose Yield

130 120 18

Control

Sugarcane yield (T/ha)

110 100

16

Control Gypsum

Gypsum

Sucrose yield (T/ha)

Plant 1st Ratoon

14

90 80 70
60 50 40

12

10

6 Plant 1st Ratoon

Conclusions
Leaching reduced EC more pronounced with gypsum Gypsum reduced ESP to 10 insufficient Gypsum reduced clay dispersion Gypsum increased infiltration rate Cane and sucrose yields not significant
Trended in right direction More time required for reclamation

The start of subsoil acidity research in South Africa

Effect of Lime and Gypsum on Sorghum on Acid Sandy Soil

100 90 Treatment 80 70 Control Gypsum Lime pH 4.4 4.7 6.4 Exch. Al cmolc/kg 0.46 0.10 0.00

2 T Lime/ha
Leached with satd. Gypsum soln.

Relative yield (%)

60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Control

Sumner (1970) Proc. S. Afr. Sug. Tech. 44:176-182.

Effect of Gypsum on Al and Ca with Depth in Acid Sandy Soil

Exchangeable Al (cmolc/kg)
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 0 0

Exchangeable Ca (cmolc/kg)
0.5 1

0
10 20

10
20 30

Depth (cm

Depth (cm)

30 40 50 60

40 50 60 70

70
Control 80 1.6T Gypsum/ha 90

80 90

Control 1.6T Gypsum/ha

Sumner (1970) Proc. S. Afr. Sug. Tech. 44:176-182.

Self-liming Effect (Reeve and Sumner, 1972)

Sesquioxide
OH OH-

Gypsum

Alkalinity

OHOHOH-

Geluksburg soil acidity study area

Depth (cm)
0 15 15 30 30 45 45 60 60 75 75 90

Clay (%)
41.2 41.2 46.1 48.7 46.8 46.4

Org C (%)
1.5 1.2 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.3

16t/ha calcium hydroxide four years previously

With gypsum No gypsum

Initial objective to compare deep placement of lime with gypsum

Wye-double-digger

Deep limer

28 t/ha lime below plough depth 15 t/ha lime ploughed in

Alubuster

Better access to subsoil moisture

15 t/ha lime ploughed in. Note inability of roots to penetrate acid band.

The effects of gypsum

15 t/ha lime + 10 t/ha gypsum to 20 cm. 15 t/ha lime to 50 cm.

Effect of Gypsum on Exchangeable Ca with Depth

Exchangeable Ca (cmolc/L)
0.00 0 10 20 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50

30

Dep[th (cm)

40
50 60 70 80 Control 90 15 t/ha lime to 20 cm 25 t/ha lime to 50-60 cm 15 t/ha lime + 10 t/ha gypsum

Effect of Gypsum on Exchangeable Mg with Depth

Exchangeable Mg (cmolc/L)
0.00 0 10 20 30 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50

Depth (cm)

40 50 60 15 t/ha lime to 20 cm 25 t/ha lime to 50-60 cm 15 t/ha lime + 10 t/ha gypsum Control

70
80 90

Effect of Gypsum on Exchangeable Al+H with Depth

Exchangeable Al+H (cmolc/L)
0.00 0 10 20 30 15 t/ha lime to 20 cm 25 t/ha lime to 50-60 cm 15 t/ha lime + 10 t/ha gypsum Control 60 70 80 90 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00

Depth (cm)

40 50

Effect of Gypsum on Soil pH

pH
4 4.5 5 5.5 6

0
10 20 30

Depth (cm)

40 50 60 15 t/ha lime to 20 cm

70
80 90

25 t/ha lime to 50-60 cm

15 t/ha lime + 10 t/ha gypsum to 20 cm Control

Effect of Gypsum on Acid Saturation

Acid saturation (%)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

0
15 t/ha lime to 20 cm 10 20 30

25 t/ha lime to 50-60 cm

15 t/ha lime + 10 t/ha gypsum Control

Depth (cm)

40 50 60 70 80 90

Effect of Gypsum on Extractable NO3 with Depth

Extractable NO3 (mg/L)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

0
10 20 30 15 t/ha lime to 20 cm 25 t/ha lime to 50-60 cm 40 15 t/ha lime + 10 t/ha gypsum 50 60 70 80 90

Depth (cm)

Effect of Gypsum on Extractable SO4 with Depth

Extractable SO4 (mg/L)
0 50 100 150 200 250 300

0 15 t/ha lime to 20 cm
10 25 t/ha lime to 50-60 cm 20 30 15 t/ha lime + 10 t/ha gypsum

Depth (cm)

40 50 60 70 80 90

Gypsum effect on root development

Lime + gypsum

Lime only

Effect of Gypsum on Root Length

Root length (m/L)
0 0 2 4 6 0 0

Root length (m/L)

2 4 6 8

1986
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 15 t/ha lime 0.7 0.8 25 t/ha lime

1992
0.1 0.2 0.3

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

0.4
0.5 0.6 0.7 15 t/ha lime 0.8 0.9 25 t/ha lime 15 t/ha lime + 10 t/ha gypsum

15 t/ha lime + 10 t/ha gypsum

Effect of Lime and Gypsum on Leaf Nutrient Content

3.5

3
2.5

15 t/ha lime
25 t/ha lime

Leaf content (%)

15 t/ha lime + 10 t/ha gypsum 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Ca Mg K P N

Longevity of Gypsum Effect

Cumulative yield increase over control (kg/ha)
18000 16000 Lime + gypsum 14000 Nardi plough 12000

Wye-double-digger
10000 8000

6000
4000 2000 0 1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

Year

Some management problems

Effect of Gypsum Rate on Acid Saturation After 12 Years

Acid saturation (%)
20 0 30 40 50 60 70 Zero 2 t/ha 20 30 4 t/ha 8 t/ha 16 t/ha 80

10

Depth (cm)

40 50

60
70 80 90

Soil heterogeneity

L0

L5

L 10

Effects of excess N on subsoil acidity

Poor N management in sugarcane

Overall Summary and Conclusions

Work conducted by Malcolm Sumner in the 1970s clearly demonstrated the benefits of gypsum in ameliorating sodic and saline/sodic soils. Seminal research by Sumner (1970) and Reeve & Sumner (1972) also demonstrated the negative effects of subsoil acidity on crop performance in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and the benefits to be obtained from gypsum. This resulted in the proposal of a self-liming effect, whereby sulphate ions displace hydroxide ions from sesquioxidic surfaces and the pH is elevated by a neutral salt.

 Long-term field trials initiated in 1979 have strongly supported the validity of this mechanism. These trials have also unambiguously shown the benefits of gypsum to be long lasting and far superior to alternative strategies of mechanically incorporating lime to depth. Considered particularly significant is the fact that over 15 seasons, the cumulative maize grain yield benefit from 10 t/ha of gypsum plus 15 t/ha of lime was almost 16 t/ha greater than that of treatments which received 15 t/ha of lime only. Even treatments which received 25 t/ha of lime incorporated to 60 cm were surpassed by about 7.5 t/ha. Since the cost of gypsum had been redeemed within three years, the magnitude of the economic benefit is clear.

 Soil and root samples collected to depth clearly showed the benefits of gypsum on soil properties. However, there is unambiguous evidence to indicate that the quantities of gypsum required on acidic, heavy textured South African soils are appreciably greater than those considered adequate on similar soils in more highly weathered environments.
Anthropogenically induced subsoil acidity is widespread in South Africa and, since the efficacy of gypsum in eliminating subsoil acidity is dependent on the existence of sesquioxides, remains a problem. Good nitrogen management is important.

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