A Proposed NRCS Conservation Practice Standard: Amending Soil Properties with Gypsiferous Products.

This paper will discuss the proposed new NRCS conservation practice standard regarding the use of gypsiferous products in agriculture. Gypsiferous products include gypsum (CaSO₄ ^.2H₂O), has been used as an agricultural soil amendment for over 250 years as a soluble source of calcium and sulfur for crops. The standard will address the use of gypsum to improve soil physical and chemical properties related to conservation. Specifically, the standard will address use of gypsum to 1) improve soil physical/chemical properties to increase infiltration and reduce soil erosion; 2) rduce dissolved phosphorus concentrations in surface runoff and subsurface drainage; 3) mitigate subsoil aluminum toxicity; and 4) reduce the potential for pathogen transport. The specific details of the new conservation standard will be discussed.