Information package on Gypsum Amendment of Fields released in English

Project SAVE’s information package has now been released in English. It is intended to help those involved in implementing agricultural water protection measures as well as others working at the related issue.

The information package describes the use of gypsum as a water protection method. It offers basic information about the implementation and impacts of gypsum amendment based on both previous research and the results and practical experiences of the SAVE project.

Gypsum amendment as a water protection measure is simple to implement and feasible for large-scale use. It supports current measures for reducing phosphorus leaching and accelerates the achievement of the related goals. Gypsum has a direct impact on leaching, which improves the state of coastal waters. Due to the water protection benefits of gypsum amendment, it can easily be made eligible for the EU’s agricultural subsidies.

Gypsum has long been known as a soil conditioner, whose active mechanism has been understood for almost a hundred years. The effect of gypsum on the soil’s ability to bind phosphorus and limit its leaching into water has been studied for the last 10 years in Finland. In 2016, an extensive pilot project carried out in Southwest Finland involved a detailed investigation of the preconditions for the large-scale use of gypsum, and the potential risks. The gypsum amendment of fields is now ready for large-scale use in order to enhance water protection in agriculture.

 

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