Abstract
In western Kentucky, there are several million acres of fragipan soils which are characterized by both acid subsoils and fragipans which commence at depths of 20 to 30 inches below the soil surface. The combination of subsoil acidity and a fragipan with massive structure impedes root growth and water movement, diminishing, somewhat, the usefulness of the soils for crop production. Alfalfa, a crop which is very sensitive to soil acidity and to poor drainage, was chosen as a test crop to measure the effects of adding fluorogypsum to Sadler silt loam, a soil representative of the fragipan soils found in the western Kentucky coalfields. Fluorogypsum is a by-product produced from the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid from fluorospar and sulfuric acid. It is composed of calcium, sulfate and water. In addition to supplying nutrients, gypsum has been shown to reduce the level of exchangeable acidity in the subsoil.
Publication Date
1992
Volume
13
Number
4
Repository Citation
Thomas, Grant W. and Haszler, Gerald R., "Use of Fluorogypsum to Reduce Subsoil Acidity in a Fragipan Soil" (1992). Soil Science News and Views. 119.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_views/119
