GYPSUM IN AGRICULTURE

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.96624300418

• Palavras-chave: ----

• Keywords: calcium sulfate, calcium, sulfur, soil parameters, plant nutrition, crop management, efficient food production, eco-friendly agriculture

• Abstract: Gypsum (calcium sulfate) for agricultural uses is a source of essential nutrients for plants (calcium and sulfur) and a soil and root environment conditioner in surface and subsurface soil layers. Applying gypsum to the soil reduces physical, chemical, and biological losses. Gypsum is primarily available as mined (sedimentary rocks) or as a by-product of industrial processes (e.g., acid manufacturing), food protein production (lacto-gypsum), or pollution control systems (e.g., flue gas desulfurationdesulfurization  gypsum). Many plant nutrients in the soil can be managed by applying gypsum alone or in combination with other components such as lime and organic amendments. Surface-applied gypsum improves nutrient distribution in the soil profile and reduces aluminum saturation in no-tillage cropping systems. There are multiple and simultaneous benefits of applying gypsum to the soil that may be responsible for increasing plant resistance to stresses (biotic and abiotic plant diseases) and increasing plant biomass, grain, fibers, and extract yields in traditional extensive agro-environments  or organic cultivation. However, the use of gypsum in agriculture depends on its availability and shipping costs compared to the expected soil and yield responses. When gypsum is economically viable, significant advances in yields and the overall efficiency of the production process can be achieved in various crops and soil conditions. The aim of this chapter is not to exhaustively cover all gypsum-related topics but to address concepts and studies that will (i) review the recent literature on the effects of gypsum application in the soil-plant-environment system; (ii) present the gypsum recommendation methodologies and considerations; (iii) discuss studies and cases of gypsum uses in different soils and environmental conditions; (iv) suggest ways of managing gypsum to efficient and sustainable agriculture, and (v) present themes to be studied and explored to advance the knowledge of this agricultural tool. The information presented in this chapter is intended for farmers, researchers, natural sciences students, agricultural management consultants, environmental regulators, and agricultural gypsum producers and traders.