Wednesday, 24 March 2021 16:55

Mineral offers many benefits

Written by  Staff Reporters
Gypsum could increase the postharvest conservation of kiwifruit and apples. Gypsum could increase the postharvest conservation of kiwifruit and apples.

Gypsum is a highly available calcium source that provides immediately available sulphate sulphur, according to Lindsay Head - an independent horticulture consultant.

He says it assists with in-row trafficking or compaction issues, helps the root zone and air-filled porostity of the sub soil. Heard also claims it helps the roots of the vine be at their best.

Meanwhile, Winstone Gypsum states that their mineral product is a soil conditioner that will improve soil quality, drainage, aeration and particle size.

It consists of 23.3% calcium and 18% sulphate sulphur calcium, which is said to increase the postharvest conservation of apples and subtropical crops such as kiwifruit. The company says it is also a vital element for fruit quality, cell growth and cell wall rigidity.

"Soil applied calcium sources can augment and substitute the foliar applications traditionaly used in apple orchards, in order to lower production costs - provided there is no water shortage," says Heard.

He says that calcium sulphate di-hydrate is uses as 'clean green' soil conditioner and fertiliser.

"Healthier roots are encouraged by assisting the xylem to pump the calcium which is available up the vine up into the new shoots and fruitlets which are forming," Heard explains.

He says the early uptake of calcium is critical across fruit crops - ensuring the nutrient availability is as strong as is practical with gypsum's use.

"As well as the coupled positive of ensuring no discernible effect on pH makes the material a positive form of calcium input."

Winstone Gypsum says the product is also registered as a certified input under BioGro and claims that it enhances dry matter and storage characteristics - offering benefits to kiwifruit grower's return.

"Getting things right at the start of the crop's development and in the root zone," Heard adds. "Strong green leaf matter will result from the sulphate sulphur, which is available very readily via the use of gypsum."

More like this

Gypsum can help mitigate losses in runoff

Gypsum can at least partially address many hydrological and chemical factors that influence the loss of phosphorus and other nutrients from farms to waterways, says a Canterbury company.

Featured

New UHT plant construction starts

Construction is underway at Fonterra’s new UHT cream plant at Edendale, Southland following a groundbreaking ceremony recently.

National

Call for consistent rules

Listen, learn and lead - those are the top priorities next year for HortNZ's new chief executive, Kate Scott.

Boost for hort exports

The horticulture sector is a big winner from recent free trade deals sealed with the Gulf states, says Associate Agriculture…

Machinery & Products

Sorting unwashed potatoes made easy

Downs, a leader in potato reception, automated sorting, and storage, has introduced its new high-throughput optical sorter for unwashed potatoes…

Jumbo X saves time and money

A winner of a prestigious ‘Technical Innovations 2024’ award by FederUnacoma at the EIMA show in Italy, the Maschio Jumbo…

NH unveils specialty tractor

New Holland recently showcased its new-generation T4.120 F specialty tractor, giving New Zealand customers a closer look at the winner…

Combining track and tyre

While the last fifty years has seen massive evolution and development of the humble tractor tyre, the last two decades…

Croplands goes nuts with Nelson

Croplands and Nelson Manufacturing Company Inc, a California-based manufacturer of air-blast sprayers, has announced a new distribution partnership to deliver…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Dark ages

OPINION: Before we all let The Green Party have at it with their 'bold' emissions reduction plan, the Hound thought…

Rhymes with?

OPINION: The Feds' latest banking survey shows that bankers are even less popular with farmers than they used to be,…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter