Agricultural gypsum


Background

Gypsum is best known today as the main ingredient in wallboard, but in colonial times, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin promoted its use in agriculture to maintain chemical balances between soil, water and plants. Since then, agriculture research has generated a wealth of information about what constitutes a good chemical balance. The challenge is how to use this information to create the best possible conditions for your crops.

Gypsum is a unique material that performs well as a soil amendment. Gypsum, chemically known as calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4 • 2H2O) readily dissolves to release calcium ions (Ca+2) and sulfate-sulfur ions (SO4-2).

Gypsum application benefits

  • Rehabilitation of high sodium, magnesium and aluminum impacted soils.
  • Soil structure improvement.
  • Surface crusting elimination to improve water penetration and aeration.
  • Increased release of soil nutrients to crop roots, reducing need for expensive fertilizer applications.
  • Greater yield for alfalfa, corn, soybeans, wheat, peanuts and potatoes.

Now available in Wisconsin

Gypsum, a naturally occurring mineral actively mined as close as Iowa and Michigan, is nothing new in agriculture. What is new for Wisconsin farmers is having a locally produced gypsum supply.

As part of our environmental commitment to reduce emissions and minimize landfill of coal combustion products (PDF 926k), we installed flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems that produce a high purity gypsum product. We are now making this synthetic gypsum available to Wisconsin farmers. 

Distribution

We Energies contracts Beneficial Reuse Management to market and distribute our gypsum to the Wisconsin agricultural community under the Gypsoil brand name. Inquiries about availability and pricing can be quickly and easily answered by contacting Beneficial Reuse Management at 866-GYPSOIL (866-497-7645) or e-mail.

Licensed and approved in Wisconsin

wda dnr seal

Our gypsum is licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and approved by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a soil amendment.
WDATCP License (PDF 126k)
WDNR Approval (PDF 4874k)

We Energies gypsum typical characteristics (dry basis)

Purity (CaSO4 • 2H2O)

> 95%

Calcium content

> 20%

Sulfur content

> 16%

Particle Size - % passing 200 mesh sieve

> 95%

Angle of Repose

49°
       

We Energies Gypsum - Particle Size Distribution chart

Advantages of We Energies gypsum

  • Our local production in southeastern Wisconsin reduces haul distance, which reduces emissions and delivery cost to your field.
  • Higher purity than natural gypsum delivers more calcium sulfate per ton to your field.
  • Fine particle size assures even distribution with conventional lime spreading equipment and rapid release of calcium and sulfur.

Additional information about FGD gypsum

USDA National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory Gypsum Factsheet (PDF 4874kk)
Ohio State University Extension Gypsum Factsheet
Research and Demonstration of Agricultural Uses of Gypsum and Other FGD Materials

Information about We Energies FGD systems and coal combustion products

We Energies Air Quality Control Projects
We Energies Coal Combustion Products (CCP) Utilization Handbook

 

Video

gypsum video Learn about FGD gypsum.