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| Publication Type:
| Trade |
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| Author(s): | Rands, John |
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| Author Affiliation: | Soil and water engineer with ADAS |
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| Title: | Research into gypsum as a drainage aid |
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| Source: | Parks, Golf Courses & Sports Grounds. Vol. 56, No. 9, June 1991, p. 28,30. |
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| Publishing Information: | London, England: Clarke and Hunter Ltd. |
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| # of Pages: | 2 |
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| Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Drainage; Soil amendments; Gypsum
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| Abstract/Contents: | The Kent topsoil had poor water movement between a good system of under-drains. Sand-slitting was not a possibility as it would have been destroyed by arable cultivations. The sodium in the soil had made the marsh clay particles break down, blocking the manmade drainage and the natural cracks and fissures. By 1980, surface ponding was widespread. The land was redrained in 1984, but this time gravel backfill was placed over the pipes and this material was brought to within 225mm (9") of the surface. The drains are about 850mm (33") deep and at 20m (66') spacings. It was known that the sodium increased with depth, so the drain trench material received special attention. The material was levelled, and a strip over the drain approximately 4m (13') wide received a gypsum application of 35t/ha (14t/acre). The field then received an additional overall dressing of 12.5t/ha (5t/acre). A block of land of 2ha (5 acres) was divided into 12 equal plots for 4 treatments by 3 replicates. Treatment (A) re-drainage only (control, no gypsum treatment). (B) Treatment A plus gypsum over the drain. (C) Treatment B plus an overall gypsum dressing. (D) Treatment C plus mole drainage. The experiment was laid down in 10/84 and recording ceased in 8/88. At weekly intervals the site operator walked over the field and recorded the conditions on a scale of 1 to 9: 1 = snow covered; 2 = frozen; 3 = ponded all over, very soft; 4 = ponded in places; 5 = squelchy; 6 = damp and soft; 7 = damp but firm; 8 = dry on top; and 9 = baked hard and cracked. Plots C and D received the highest scores, always greater than 5. Gypsum over the drains gave some benefit. The value of mole drainage was dubious, though the water control was marginally best on this plot. Why had the application of gypsum improved the soil structure to overcome the drainage problem? At the start of the experiment subsoil permeability was exceptionally low. Subsoil had not subsequently improved, so it appears that water movement in the topsoil had improved. Theoretically, non-calcareous soils rich in sodium salts are most likely to benefit from gypsum amendment. Sodium makes clay disperse (or deflocculate). Gypsum, a calcium salt, is added, so that the minute particles of clay bind together to form clods. This is a slow reaction taking a number of years. The Kent improvement occurred in three months. The improvement in soil structure also allows better rooting and greater moisture retention. The most soluble form of gypsum is the finely divided like talcum powder. However, this form is prone to wind drift. To overcome this problem a ready mix of sand and gypsum is available. This is suitable when there already is a surface sand layer. The gypsum used at Kent was sugar-like in consistency and even on a windy day drift was no more than one yard. The machinery used was an agricultural lime spreader. |
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 0 |
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| See Also: | Other items relating to: DRAIN |
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| Note: | Pictures, b/w |
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| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Rands, J. 1991. Research into gypsum as a drainage aid. Parks Golf Courses Sports Grounds. 56(9):p. 28,30. |
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MSU catalog number: SB 433 .A2 P2 |
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