Mid Summer Soil Correction

We have recently begun to apply our mid summer gypsum application to greens, tees and fairways. The gypsum is used to help flush the high levels of sodium that is found in our effluent water.

Over time the soil takes on the characteristics of the water, which in our case is a very bad thing. Our water source is very high in both bicarbonates and sodium which destroys soil structure and makes growing high quality turf a difficult proposition. As the soils mirror the water quality, they become poorly drained, compacted and the essential elements become bound up in the soil.

In an average year over 550 lbs of sodium per acre is applied to the golf course from irrigation alone. It is no wonder why the golf course responds so positively to natural precipitations cleansing effect. When the heat of the summer hits and rainfall intervals begin to stretch out this is when we struggle most with our water quality and our compromised soils. The gypsum is applied at yearly rates approaching 2500 lbs per acre in efforts to help swing the pendulum back toward healthy soils.

There is a lot of truth in the old statement that "you are only as good as your soil".

Gypsum being applied to a fairway

Close up of Gypsum on a fairway

The Mad Dash

The weather forecasts are calling for significant snow to come in over the next several days and the timing could not be better for applying gypsum to some of the play areas. The two areas we keyed on were greens and tees. If and when the natural precipitation comes, it will put the pelletized gypsum into solution which will help flush the sodium through our soils. The clean water content in the snow will be much more effective in leaching than the effluent water we utilize for irrigation.

Soil Correction

Our soil test results have consistently shown over the years that we are deficient in calcium largely due to the fact we irrigate with effluent water. Effluent water is very high in sodium and chlorides which over time destroy the structure of the soil. As a result our soils have taken on the same characteristics as the water and become less than desirable for plant growth.
Each year we test our soils to determine the amounts of amendments to be applied to offset the detrimental effects of the effluent water. Through irrigation each year, we apply over 550 lbs of sodium per acre from the effluent water. It takes a tremendous amount of gypsum being applied to keep up with the sodium, let alone offset it.

Gypsum Being Applied To a Fairway Gypsum Being Applied To a Approach



Major benefits associated with gypsum usage are:

• Improvement of soil structure by loosening compacted soils.
  
  
• Gypsum decreases pH of sodic soils
  
  
• Amends and reclaims soils high in destructive sodium. Sodium has the opposite effect of calcium in soils by destroying structure and reducing water, air movement and root growth.
  
  
• Replaces harmful salts. Sodium, chlorine and many other salts in higher levels in irrigation water and soil are detrimental to plant growth and development since they rupture and destroy plant cells.
  
  
• Helps with high bicarbonate irrigation water. Bicarbonates form free lime when water evaporates resulting in reduced available calcium and increased soil pH. The reduction of available calcium also leads to loss of soil structure and reduced water infiltration.
  
  
• Enhances water use efficiency. Twenty-five to 100 percent more water is available in gypsum treated soils vs. untreated soils; less irrigation water is required to achieve the same results.
  
• Along with composts, manures and other plant materials, use of gypsum helps rebuild the supply of soil organic matter.
  
  
  From the standpoint of plant nutrition and as a soil amendment, gypsum uniquely helps soils be more productive and more fruitful than any other single product.