Nutrient Runoff
Nutrient runoff, also known as eutrophication, can happen with poor soil condtions. Soil scientist Dr. Darrell Norton outlined findings from his comprehensive evaluations of gypsum’s impact on soil erosion, nutrient runoff, sediment loading, water infiltration, and surface cracking at the recent Midwest Soil Improvement Symposium.
Norton found in a series of rainfall simulator experiments that soil loss and nutrient runoff is reduced when gypsum is applied at a rate of one ton per acre. He explained that gypsum prevents soil particles from detaching during rainfall events, and prevents nutrient loss in surface water runoff.