Without an adequate supply of high-quality irrigation water, your crops can never achieve their potential for both quality and yields.

“As the water goes, so does your soil” This adage, reminds us that irrigation water is just as important as the soil. Soils take on the characteristics of irrigation water. If you have poor quality water, your soil quality will be poor.

When water is too pure, like snow melt or rainwater, it will always take nutrients with it as it leaches. Prolonged use of pure water can strip cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na) from the soil resulting in low nutrient levels. Pure irrigation water can also cause crusting and reduced water infiltration as clay particles become dispersed after drying.

High Sodium, low carbonate irrigation water can create sodic soils. The sodium causes the soil structure to deteriorate, resulting in poor water infiltration and percolation. High sodium water can decrease the availability of nutrients to the plant even when the soil is saturated.

To improve water infiltration and improve irrigation water’s ability to carry nutrients and penetrate the soil, you may have to adjust the quality. It may be necessary to dissolve gypsum into irrigation water to increase the water’s electrical conductivity for better water penetration. Gypsum injection may also prevent problems that are created by irrigating with pure water.

In sodic soils, calcium applications might be required to displace sodium from the soil and correct problems with soil structure. Applying gypsum through the irrigation system effectively keeps the soil open for water infiltration. Learn more about treating irrigation water on our website.

Premium 97 Gypsum is a Better Choice

Gypsum is the common name for calcium sulfate. It is a source of essential plant nutrients, calcium, and sulfur.

There are two forms of natural gypsum.

The purity of gypsum can vary greatly depending on the source. Low purity ag grade anhydrate gypsum may take applications of tons per acre to see a response. While high purity calcium sulfate dihydrate gypsum can improve yields and soil performance with applications of pounds per acre!

Premium 97% is the purest, most soluble mined solution grade gypsum available. Improves soil structure, improves crop quality, and yields more effectively than bulk gypsum.

Download the Premium 97 information sheet or to learn more about using Premium 97 Gypsum in your irrigation program, contact your Diamond K Rep today.