Hydrologic properties and leachate nutrient responses of soil columns collected from gypsum-treated fields

Increased availability of flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) and the recognition of its potential to improve soil–water relationships have stimulated studies of its use on poorly drained soils with high seasonal rainfall, especially on no-tillage (NT) soils. Previous studies have focused on the effects of gypsum on hydrological properties at the soil surface (e.g. infiltration and soil crusting) but little information is available concerning the effects of surface-applied gypsum in profiles of non-sodic NT soils with contrasting drainage classes. To address this lack of information, undisturbed columns from two non-sodic NT soil profiles, characterized as being either moderately well drained or poorly drained, were collected from agricultural fields with historic information regarding number of years of gypsum application (i.e. 0, 4, and 12 yr). Alfalfa was planted in the columns and then plant growth, and soil chemical and hydrologic properties were measured. Higher Ca concentrations were found in both gypsum treated soils compared with control (CT) soils (P