Gypsum began making the news the past few years as more farmers delved deeper into no-till, cover crops and soil health. Some believe applying gypsum in a regular program can benefit soil health. However, some agronomists recommend it only for the nutrient value it provides the crop.

“We offer pelletized gypsum to our customers,” said Paul Wolfe, an agronomist with Laughery Valley Ag Co-op, Osgood. “Our reason for doing so is because it is a good source of sulfur.

“We don’t have any data that says it provides benefits for soil health, so we don’t promote it on that basis. If those benefits come along with it, then that’s an even better deal for the farmer.”

Wolfe made his comments while appearing on a panel at the 24th annual Southeast Indiana No-Till Breakfast in Ripley County recently.

Here are three facts about gypsum that Wolfe said farmers should understand.

1. Gypsum is not a replacement for lime. Gypsum is a soil amendment like lime, but it won’t change the soil pH, Wolfe said. It’s critical to realize that if the pH in a field is lower than you like, you need to apply lime to raise it, he emphasized. You won’t correct pH problems by applying gypsum.

2. Gypsum contains sulfur, sometimes a limiting factor in corn. Twenty years ago, corn would seldom show a response to sulfur. That was before utility producers installed scrubbing equipment that removes sulfur from emissions so they can comply with the Clean Air Act. Sulfur is an important secondary nutrient, and it can be present at low enough levels in the soil that adding sulfur produces a response, Wolfe said. Applying gypsum is one way to add sulfur.

3. Gypsum comes in different forms. More people are familiar with spreading bulk gypsum. Although the texture is different, at a distance it may look like lime. The product that Wolfe recommends to customers concerned about lime is a pelletized gypsum product.