This field has a sodium affected soil. Magnesium levels in this soil are about 30%. The ground becomes very hard when it dries.
Prior to PRO CAL 40 being applied this part of the field did not grow anything very well…..just a few weeds. As you can see the corn is growing very well in the treated area. The soybeans the following year are much better in the treated part of the field. Notice the trees in the background….you can see that this is the same part of the field as the previous picture. (The dates on the pictures are not correct…..the soybeans were actually photographed int 2008.)
There was 3 tons of PRO CAL 40 applied to this field prior to the corn being planted. When soil sampling the field during the year of the soybeans (one year after application) the soil where no PRO CAL 40 was applied could not be penetrated by a soil probe. The area treated with PRO CAL 40 was still very firm, but a soil probe could be pushed into is quite easily.
When gypsum is applied to sodium affected soils, the soil is almost like a big sponge. The gypsum dissolves rapidly and is quickly absorbed by the soil. The change in soil structure and friability can be noticed soon after application although total soil reclamation will take several years.
- Sodium affected soil
PRO CAL 40