JAI NARAIN VYAS UNIVERSITY,JODHPUR

FACULTY OF COMMERCE AND

MANAGEMENT STUDIES

PROJECT REPORT ON
NATIONAL AGRO :
MFG OF GYUSUM GRANULES
(ORGANIC FERTILIZER)
BBA FINAL YEAR(2019-2020)
SUBMITTED BY:

 Anurag Choudhary
SUBMITTED TO:
DR. Ashish Mathur

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 CONTENTS
DECLARATION

CERTIFICATE

PERFACE

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION& INDUSTRY PROFILE

CHAPTER 2 SOURCE AND PRODUCTION OF GYPSUM

CHAPTER 3 PROPERTIES OF GYPSUM THAT PROVIDE BENEFITS

FOR AGRICULTURE USE

CHAPTER 4 AGRICULTURE AND LAND APPLICATION

USES OF GYPSUM

CHAPTER 5 GYPSUM APPLICATION

CHAPTER 6 ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIN RELATED TO

GYPSUM USE(PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVE )

CHAPTER 7 ANALYTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT

CHAPTER 8 GYPSUM HANDLING AND STORAGE

CHAPTER 9 TYPES OF GYPSUM GRANULES

CHAPTER 10 LITERATURE REVIEW OF GYPSUM GRANULES

CHAPTER 11 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

CHAPTER 12 SUGGESTIONS AND CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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DECLARATION
I Anurag Choudhary student of JAI NARAIN VYAS
UNIVERSITY, jodhpur studiying in BBA final year ,hereby
declare that i have completed this project on " NATIONAL
AGRO MFG OF GYPSUM GRANULES ( ORGANIC FERTILIZER)
" for the subject "Project Report " in the acdemic year 2019-
2020. The information submitted is true and orignal to the
best of my knowledge.

DATE:

Signature of student :

Name : ANURAG CGOUDHARY

Roll No: 18BBA20007

BBA FINAL YEAR 2019-2020

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JAI NARAIN VYAS UNIVERSITY, JODHPUR

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that ,ANURAG CHOUDHARY ofBBA

Final ,has sucessfully completed the project in titled
"NATIONAL AGRO MFG OF GYPSUM GRANULES
( ORGANIC FERTILIZER )" under my guidance for the
academic year 2019-2020. the information submitted
is true and orignal as per my knowledge.

( INTERNAL GUIDE )

DR.ASHISH MATHUR
(COORDINATOR)

EXTERNAL EXAMINER

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 PERFACE
Currently, a large amount of flue gas desulfurization
(FGD) gypsum is produced by removal of sulfur dioxide
(SO₂) from flue gas streams when energy sources,
generally coal, containing high concentrations of sulfur
(S) are burned. Initially, most of the FGD gypsum
produced in the United States was used in the
wallboard industry and only a small amount was used
in agriculture. However, FGD gypsum is suitable for
agricultural uses and, similar to mined gypsum, can
enhance crop production. As with other fertilizers and
agricultural amendments, FGD gypsum must be used
appropriately to avoid potential negative impacts on
both agricultural production and the environment. In
many respects, there are similarities between the agri-
cultural use of FGD gypsum and nitrogen fertilizers in
that both can provide crop production benefits but, if
improperly used, can also lead to negative environ-
mental impacts. A sustainable society cannot continue
to extract
resources to create products and/or by-products that
are then subsequently disposed of in landfills. It is

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imperative that recycling of all kinds of materials is
encouraged and becomes more common. Agricultural
applications represent important new beneficial uses
for FGD gypsum. It can augment or replace commer-
cial mined gypsum, thus avoiding both energy-inten-
sive and water-intensive mining activities associated
with gypsum extraction. Currently there is a lack of
published guidelines that provide general best
management practices related to land application uses
of gypsum, including FGD
gypsum. To overcome this lack of information, Regions
of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
Te Ohio State University provided support to the
authors to prepare this management guide titled
Gypsum as an Agricultural Amendment: General Use
Guidelines. An abundance of practical information
related to agricultural and land application uses of FGD
gypsum is included in the pages that follow

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chapter 1. INTRODUCTON

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" NATIONAL AGRO " established in 2017 As a
manufacturers of gypsum granules . Gypsum granules
are use in agriculture for the better productivity of
land to give crop . gypsum granules have no side effect
on land and crop it soften the land and lead better
crops unless than DAP and Ueria which have lots of
side effects to land and crop also . It gradually reduce
the productivity of land and crop ( which is not good
for health of humans ) After gradually use of DAP And
Urea the land is unable to produce crop. the land
become hard as stone. In punjab lots of land is
unproductive now because of excessive use of DAP and
Urea which is made of chemical .the crop which is
produced by these are slow poison for us which create
lots of diseases and cancer is one even though a train
in punjab name" the cancer train "because all the
passenger in it are cancer paitent.

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This is the land after excessive use of DAP And UREA

The gypsum granules help to recover the land its own

naturality make it soft and productive again in natural
way.
The gypsum granules are made completly by natural
products like gypsum ,betonite malamide ,carbon etc..
ther are many natural ptoducts can be mixed to form
gypsum granules . In gypsum granules 50-60% raw
material is gypsum and remaining is other material .

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RAW MATERIAL (GYPSUM ):

OTHER RAW MATERIAL:

PTO:

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Page 11
chapter 2. SOURCE AND
PRODUCTION OF GYPSUM
GRANULES
Gypsum is a soluble source of the essential plant nutri-
ents, calcium and sulfur, and can improve overall
plant growth. Gypsum amendments can also improve
the physical properties of some soils (especially heavy
clay soils). Such amendments promote soil aggregation
and thus can (1) help prevent dispersion of soil parti-
cles, (2) reduce surface crust formation, (3) promote
seedling emergence, and (4) increase water infiltration
rates and movement through the soil profile. It canalso
reduce erosion losses of soils and nutrients and
reduce concentrations of soluble phosphorus in surface
water runoff. Chemical properties improved by appli-
cation of gypsum include the mitigation of subsoil
acidity and aluminum toxicity. Tis enhances deep

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rooting and the ability of plants to take up adequate
supplies of water and nutrients during drought

periods. Gypsum is the most commonly used amend-

ment for sodic soil reclamation and can also be
included as a component in synthetic soils for nursery,
greenhouse, and landscape use. Tese multiple uses of
FGD gypsum represent a great potential to provide
benefits to agricultural and horticultural users.
Several possible sources of gypsum for agricultural use
are currently available in the United States. Tese
include mined gypsum from geologic deposits, phos-
phogypsum from wet-acid production of phosphoric
acid from rock phosphate, recycled casting gypsum
from various manufacturing processes, recycled wall-
board gypsum, and flue gas desulfurization (FGD)
gypsum from power plants. FGD gypsum represents a

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new and large volume source and is produced when
coal is burned to produce electricity, heat, or other
forms of energy

Combustion of coal produces 52% of our national need

for electricity. During combustion, fly ash and bottom
ash are produced (Figure 1-2).
If the coal contains appreciable amounts of sulfur,
sulfur dioxide is also produced, and the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990 restrict
sulfur dioxide emissions into the atmosphere from
coal-fired facilities. Tis has spurred the develop-ment
of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems that
scrub the sulfur dioxide out of the flue gases and
successfully bring utilities into regulatory compliance.
Tese FGD systems can generate large quantities of
products, including gypsum , which must be placed in
landfills, deposited in surface impound-ments,

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or beneficially recycled.

Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum is created in

limestone-forced oxidation scrubbers that remove
sulfur dioxide from the flue gas stream afer coal
combustion. In general, a wet scrubbing process first
exposes the flue gases to a slurry of hydrated lime.
Capture of SO₂ by the lime slurry initially forms
calcium sulfite (CaSO₃•0.5H₂O). Forcing additional air
into the system oxidizes the calcium sulfite and
converts it into gypsum, i.e., CaSO₄•2H₂O
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During and afer the oxidation process, washing of the
by-product can remove some water-soluble elements
such as boron (B). Also, in some cases, removal of fines
can decrease mercury (Hg) concentrations. Te final
step of the process involves partial removal of water by
a combination of centrifugation and vacuum filtration.
The gypsum that is recovered is high quality and suit-
able for industrial (e.g., wallboard) and agricultural
uses.

Schematic of the scrubbing process to produce FGD gypsum. (Dontsova et al., 2005.)

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Production of FGD gypsum has gradually increased
over the past several years (Table 1-1). In 2008,
approx-
imately 18 million tons of FGD gypsum were produced
of which 60% (10.6 million tons) was used—mainly in
wallboard. Less than 2% of the total FGD gypsum
production was used in agriculture. However, annual
production of FGD gypsum is expected to double in 10
years as more coal-fired power plants come online and
as new scrubbers are added to existing power plants to
comply with the EPA’s Clean Air Amendments and
other requirements. Existing uses of FGD gypsum will
be unable to consume all of the new FGD gypsum that
will be created. Because it is well known that mined
gypsum can improve soil properties and water
management and can enhance agricultural produc-
tion, there is great interest in using the high-quality
FGD gypsum produced by utilities in place of mined
gypsum.

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Different sources of gypsum have specific mineralog-
ical, physical, and chemical properties. Properties of
FGD gypsum are ofen compared with results for the
same measurements that are obtained for mined
gypsum that is currently used in agriculture. Mineral-
ogical and physical properties of FGD gypsum from
the W. H. Zimmer Station of Duke Energy (Moscow,
Ohio) and mined gypsum from the Kwest Group (Port
Clinton, Ohio) are shown in Table 1-2. Te mineral
composition of FGD gypsum and mined gypsum is
predominantly CaSO₄•2H₂O. Occasionally, FGD gypsum
contains minor amounts of quartz (SiO₂). Mined
gypsum contains both quartz and dolomite
[CaMg(CO₃)₂]. FGD gypsum usually possesses a much
smaller and more uniform particle size (more than
95% < 150 microns) than agricultural mined gypsum
that is granulated to produce a final size of 2-4 mm.
However, FGD gypsum can also be processed to form
larger-sized granules. Te chemical composition of FGD
gypsum is influ-enced by the type of coal, scrubbing

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process, andsorbent used in the desulfurization
process.
The FGD gypsum can have a purity as high as 99.6%
Concentrations of other chemical elements in FGD
gypsum from the W. H. Zimmer Station of Duke Energy
(Moscow, Ohio) and in mined gypsum from the Kwest
Group .

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chapter 3. PROPERTIES OF
GYPSUM THAT PROVIDE
BENEFITS FOR AGRICULTURAL
USES
To make recommendations for gypsum use in
agriculture, it is important that we have a good under-
standing of its composition and properties.
Composition of pure gypsum (CaSO₄•2H₂O) is 79%
calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) and 21% water (H₂O). Pure
gypsum .contains 23.3% calcium (Ca) and 18.6% sulfur
(S).Gypsum is moderately soluble in water (2.5 g per L)
or approximately 200 times greater than lime (CaCO₃).
Tis makes the calcium in gypsum more mobile than the
calcium in lime and allows it to more easily move
through the soil profile.

FDG gypsum as a source of plant nutrients:

For many years, crops received more than enough
sulfur from rainfall, but monitoring of sulfur deposited
by rainfall onto soil has revealed significant

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decreases in sulfur inputs. In 1979 about 31 lbs of
sulfur per acre were deposited onto our soil in
Ohio,and this decreased to about 16 lbs of sulfur per
acre in 2007 (Figure 2-1). Tis decrease—coupled with
other decreases in S inputs due to the use of highly
concentrated fertilizers containing little or no sulfur,
intensive cropping systems, and increased crop yields
that result in more sulfur removal from the soil every
year—is leading to more and more reports of sulfur
deficiencies in crops.

national atmospheric deposition program 2010

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Gypsum is one of the earliest forms of fertilizer used in
the United States. It has been applied to agricultural
soils for more than 250 years. Because gypsum
solubilizes rather slowly, gypsum can provide continual
release of sulfur to the soil for more than just the year
it is applied. Use of gypsum as a sulfur fertilizer to
enhance crop production in sulfur deficient soils has
been proved for many crops such as corn, soybean,
canola, and alfalfa

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Calcium moves very slowly, if at all, from one plant part
to another, and fruits at the end of the transport
system get too little. Calcium must, therefore,
beconstantly available to the roots. Additions to soil of
a good source of calcium, such as gypsum, can improve
the quality of horticultural crops (Sumner and
Larrimore, Heckman, 2008; Scott et al., 1993; Shear,
1979). Root and orchard crops seem especially
responsive to calcium. For example, use of gypsum as a
calciumfertilizer for peanuts is well known in the
southeastern United States, and adequate quantities of
calcium must be present in the pegging zone for the
proper development of disease-free peanuts Root rot
of avocado trees caused by Phytophthora, blossom-
end rot of watermelon and tomatoes, and bitter pit
inapples are also partially controlled by gypsum (Scott
et al., 1993; Shear, 1979).

 FGD GYPSUM TO IMPROVE SOIL

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:
Soil structure is defined as the arrangement of
primary mineral particles and organic substances
into larger units known as aggregates with their
inter-aggregate pore system. Soil structure has
been shown to influence a wide variety of soil
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processes including water and chemical transport,
soil aeration and thermal regime, erosion by wind
and water, soil response to mechanical stress,
seedling germination, and root penetration.

Many soils from semiarid to humid regions have

an unstable structure, which makes them
susceptible to
erosion and difficult to manage. Tese soils have a
tendency to disperse and form a stable suspension

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of particles in water. As a result, they develop a
more compacted structure, particularly at or near
the soil surface. Clay dispersion is caused by the
mutual repulsion between the clay particles, which
results from the presence of extensive negative
electric fields surrounding them (Dontsova et al.,
2004).
Flocculation is the opposite process, where the
electric double layer is sufficiently compressed so
that attractive forces allow coagulation of the
individual clay particles into microaggregates.
Application of gypsum can reduce dispersion
(Figure 2-4) and promote flocculation of soils.
Flocculation is a necessary condition for the
formation and stabilization of soil structure. Tis
increases water infiltration and percolationand
thus reducing soil erosion and improving water
quality.
Soil crusting is the destruction of surface soil
structure by raindrop impact, resulting in a surface
layer enriched with individual soil particles and
micro-aggregates. A serious consequence of
crusting is surface sealing caused by the
destruction of the interaggregate pore system in

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the thin layer at the interface between the soil and
the atmosphere. Tis surface sealing reduces water
infiltration and gaseous exchange with the
atmosphere and can also have an adverse effect
on seedling emergence.

Surface crust strength is largely dependent on clay

and moisture content. Gypsum helps reduce the
dispersion of the clay that leads to surface crust
formation and also slows the rate of surface drying
. Thus both the rate of crust development and final
strength will be affected by gypsum additions

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leading to improved seedling emergence and
establishment and in the reduction of modulus of
rupture and resistance to penetration. The
expected outcome of reducing soil crust formation
is improved crop and pasture yields. Field studies
in various locations around the world have
indicated that the yields of crops can be
significantly increased by gypsum, due in part to
improved crop emergence and increased air and
water entry into the soil. Gypsum is the most
commonly used amendment for sodic soil
reclamation. Te basis for this is that gypsum
provides Ca that can exchange with Na and
Mg, thus leading to flocculation of soil particles.
This promotes better overall structure
development in these highly dispersed soils so that
sufficient infiltration and percolation of water into
and through the soil profile can take place.

GYPSUM TO IMPROVE SOIL CHEMICAL

PROPERTIES
The detrimental effects on plant growth of subsoil
acidity, particularly at high levels of exchangeable

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aluminum (Al3+), are well known. Te lower the soil
pH, the greater the concentration of soluble and
available aluminum. For many plants growing in
acid soils, it is not the pH that is especially toxic,
but the presence of high levels of exchangeable
aluminum .Subsoil acidity prevents root
exploitation of nutrients and water in the subsoil
horizons. Agricultural lime is recommended for
correction of soil acidity and low soil pH. Whereas
the beneficial effects of calcitic lime are mostly
limited to the zone of incorporation, surface
applications of gypsum may affect soil physical and
chemical properties at depth. This is because of
gypsum’s much greater solubility compared to
lime.

PTO

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. (Sumner and Larri-
more, 2006.)

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 CHAPTER 4.
AGRICULTURE AND LAND
APPLICATION USES OF GYPSUM
.

Application of mined gypsum to agricultural soils has

a long history (Crocker, 1922). Most farmers do not
have experience in applying gypsum to their fields and
do not know the value of gypsum. Also, information is
lacking as to the best management practices
associated with using gypsum as an agricultural
amendment. In this chapter, several specific examples
of using gypsum in agriculture and for other land
applications are introduced and briefly described. As
previously mentioned in Chapter 2, a readily available
source of gypsum for agricultural use in Ohio and the
United States is FGD gypsum

GYPSUM AS A SOURCE OF PLANT NUTRIENTS

FOR CROPS :
An experiment was conducted in Ohio from 2002 to
2005 to test a sulfur-by-nitrogen nutrient interaction

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for corn production. Te nitrogen was applied at rates of
0-210 lbs per acre as ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) and
sulfur was applied as FGD gypsum or another FGD
product at the rate of 30 lbs per acre. Results indicated
sulfur application significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the
yield of corn compared to the no-sulfur control
treatment in 2003 (Table 3-1). Their was a sulfur-by-
nitrogen interaction in 2004 and 2005 with sulfur
increasing relative yields more at the low nitrogen
application rates than at the high nitrogen rates. Tis
result suggests that reduced nitrogen inputs and
increased yield could offset the cost of applying
gypsum and would also diminish the potential for
nitrate contamination of surface and ground waters.
Agricultural gypsum and two types of FGD products
that contain calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) and calcium sulfite
(CaSO₃) were applied at 0, 14, and 60 lbs of sulfur per
acre to an agricultural soil (Wooster silt loam) located
near Wooster, Ohio. Growth of a new planting of
alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was increased 10 to 40% by
the treatments compared to the untreated control
(Chen et al., 2005). Also at Wooster, increased alfalfa
growth of 18% was associated with additions of

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gypsum for the combined years of 2000-2002 . In a
further study, mined gypsum and the FGD products
mentioned earlier were applied at 0, 7, 14, and 21 lbs
of sulfur per acre to five established alfalfa stands in
different regions of Ohio. Mean alfalfa yields were
increased 4.6% in 2001 and 6.2% in 2002 with sulfur
treatments compared to the untreated control. Tese
results were statistically significant at the P ≤
0.05 level.

(Illustration adopted from Buckman and Brady (1969) and

kindly provided by Dr. Jerry Bigham, Te Ohio State
University.)

Gypsum can also affect yields of other crops, and

gypsum has been the most common calcium sourcefor
improving peanut production in the southeastern
United States. Application of gypsum not only lbs/acre
bushels per acre increases peanut yield but also

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improves peanut quality. A study in Florida indicates
that application of gypsum at 0.5 ton per acre
significantly increases the yield and value of peanuts
and the calcium concentration in peanut seeds.

GYPSUM TO IMPROVE SOIL PHYSICAL

PROPERTY
Gypsum has been shown to improve surface infiltration
rates by inhibiting or delaying surface seal formation as
was described in the previous chapter. A field study
was conducted using FGD gypsum at 1-2 tons per acre
to improve infiltration in a poorly drained soil in
Indiana.Tere was greater ponding of water in the
control field than in the FGD gypsum-treated field.
Water ponding restricts air exchange with the
atmosphere and leads to poor crop stand.

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Gypsum application to soil can reduce soil erosion by
flocculating clay particles so that they settle out of
surface water and thus are less prone to be moved
offsite. Many soils in the United States have also
become highly enriched in soluble phosphorus. This
occurs on soil surrounding animal production facilities
when heavy applications of manure or fertilizer
phosphorus are applied without proper soil testing.
This phosphorus, if moved off the field into receiving
water bodies, can cause eutrophication, which is
defined as excessive nutrients in a lake or other body
of water. Te calcium in gypsum can bind with
phosphorus to form a calcium phosphate precipitate
and thus help improve water quality (Favaretto et
al.,2006). Of several treatments to reduce phosphorus
in surface water runoff, gypsum at approximately 2.0
tons per acre was found to be the most effective and
cost efficient. It has been suggested that use of
gypsum, including FGD gypsum, could be included in a
best management plan (BMP) for nutrient
management of manures from large animal production
facilities.

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GYPSUM TO IMPROVE SOIL CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES
A study in Brazil indicated that applications of gypsum
into the plow layer reduced subsurface aluminum
toxicity and improved deep rooting so that water and
nutrient uptake by corn, wheat, soybean,sorghum, and
leuceana (a forage legume) were dramatically
improved (Ritchey et al., 1995). For example, the
percentage of corn roots found below 45-cm depth
increased by more than 600% with the addition of 2.7
tons per acre or more of gypsum. Corn,
wheat,sorghum, and leuceana yields were also
increased by 45, 50, 24, and 50% over the control,
respectively. A study in Mississippi indicated that
application of FGDgypsum at 4.4 tons per acre
ameliorated subsoil acidity and increased cotton yield
and overall cotton quality. Work in South Africa on
corn has also shown yield benefits when gypsum was
applied to help overcome subsoil acidity problems
.Gypsum is the most commonly used amendment for
sodic soil reclamation. A field study was conducted in
China using gypsum to remediate a heavy sodic soil.

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Very few crops could grow on the site before
reclamation in 2000. Gypsum was applied in 2001 at a
rate of 26 tons per acre, and corn was planted in 2002
and 2003.

Gypsum
treated
(26 tons/acre)

Untreated

GYPSUM FOR NURSERY ,GREENHOUSE,

LANDSCAPE AND SPORTS FIELD USE
As a Component of Plant Growth Media In 2004, we
combined FGD gypsum, bottom ash, and composts to
create high-quality, low-cost marketable growth media
for the nursery and landscape indus-tries. shows
tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) seedlings 35 days
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afer planting when grown in a commercial medium
compared to the medium containing gypsum, peat,
compost, and bed ash (Bardhan et al., 2005). Te result
indicated that the medium containing FGD gypsum
significantlyenhanced the growth of tomato compared
to the commercial medium.

Page 37
Gypsum for Landscape and Sports Field Use

Turfgrasses are perennials, and turf management ofen

needs to ameliorate the effects of acidity that can
accumulate in the soil profile due to nitrogen
fertilizer.However, agricultural lime only corrects
acidity in the application layer. It cannot ameliorate the
effects of subsoil acidity without tilling the soil in which
the turf is growing. Surface application of gypsum,
which is more soluble than agricultural lime, can
providecalcium and sulfur for grasses and ameliorate
aluminum (Al3+) toxicity experienced by the grasses
growing in soils that ofen become acid because of high
nitrogen fertilizer inputs. An experiment conducted at
Pennsylvania State University indicated that green
cover was increased 6% by FGD gypsum applied at a

Page 38
rate of 7 tons per acre (Schlossberg, 2006).FGD gypsum
being surface-applied to a golf course.

Page 39
CHAPTER 5. GYPSUM APPLICATION
DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATE
APPLICATION RATE
In order to make efficient use of gypsum to enhance
crop production, it is necessary to be able to determine
the amount of gypsum that should be applied. Te rate
of gypsum application depends on the specific
purposes for using gypsum for crop production and the
farmer’s perception of return on investment. Tis is
primarily a factor of increased revenue obtained due to
increasing crop yields or improving fertilizer use
efficiency relative to the cost of transport and
application of the gypsum.For many land-application
uses of gypsum, it is important that the recommended
rates are based on well-defined principles of soil and
agronomic science. If the source of gypsum is FGD
gypsum, application at a rate greater than predicted
necessary may be interpreted as disposal and could
also be harmful. This is similar to other types of
agricultural inputs, such as nitrogen fertilizer, if applied
at excessive rates. Application at a rate less than that

Page 40
predicted as necessary may be ineffective for
enhancing crop yields or improving soil quality.
According to the specific purpose for why gypsum is to
be applied to soil, the appropriate rates can vary
greatly, from less than 100 lbs to several tons per acre
each year. Enhance Crop Production Gypsum is a
quality source of both calcium and sulfur for plant
nutrition. Deficiencies of sulfur in crops are increasing
due to a combination of factors (Dick et al., 2006). Tese
factors include increased crop yields that result in
more sulfur removal from soil, reduced sulfur inputs
contained as by-products in other nutrient fertilizers,
and decreased sulfur deposition from the atmosphere.
Sulfur removed by various crops at specific yields is
presented in Table 4-1. Availability of sulfur to crops
from soil is reduced due to plantremoval, and
additional sulfur may need to be added to soil for
improved growth of rotational crops. Plant testing has
been used to assess the nutrient status of crops. Sulfur
concentrations in crop tissues are usually decreased
due to sulfur deficiency of the crop. Critical sulfur
concentrations in crop plants are listed
in Table 4-2. Critical levels will probably not be useful
for correcting sulfur nutritional needs in the current

Page 41
crop because of the difficulty of getting back in the
field in a timely manner to correct the sulfur
deficiency. However, this information is important
because it can help identify soils that are low in
available sulfur and guide decisions about sulfur
fertilizer needs in crops for the next year. Another way
to identify soils that may be deficient in sulfur is
through the application of a sulfur deficiency model. A
database of the sulfur status of Ohio’s soils for crop
growth was developed by combining inputs from the
atmosphere and organic matter with outputs due to
leaching and crop removal. Te database is organized by
soil series within counties to predict the sulfur status of
a particular soil for crop growth. Potential availability
of sulfur to crops from soil can be predicted using the
model. Tis model can be found at
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/sulfurdef. It is
easy to use and a good tool to rapidly determine
whether a soil may be deficient in available sulfur and
thus limit crop production. However, confirmation by
on-farm trials and/or crop tissue analysis is
recommended. Details on how to conduct on-farm
fertility trials have been provided by Sundermeier
(1997).

Page 42
APPLICATION RATE FOR NURSERY
,LANDSCAPE,GREENHOUSE AND SPORT FIELD
USE

Use of gypsum for nursery, greenhouse, landscape, and

sports fields is generally based on the same physical
and chemical properties as for agronomic crops.
However, rates used are generally higher due to the
inability to till the gypsum into the soil and to avoid
annual or multiple applications. Application rates can
vary greatly, from 5 to 20% of the medium for nursery
and greenhouse crops and from 4,000 to 14,000 lbs per
acre for landscape and sports turf fields .

Page 43
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATE GYPSUM
APPLICATION RATE FOR VARIOUS USES

Recommended rates, time of application, and method

of application of gypsum for various functions are
summarized in Table 4-6. For use of gypsum as a
nutritional source of sulfur and calcium, application
should be done annually. However, for some
applications, especially where the higher rates are
used, it is very likely that application will not be done
annually. Instead application will occur initially at a
high rate to remediate a soil situation, and then, in
subsequent years, much lower maintenance rates
would be applied.

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ENVIORNMENT AND OTHER LAND
APPLICATION CONSIDERATION FOR FGD
GYPSUM
The method of applying gypsum to soil or for other
agricultural uses depends on the reason the gypsum is
being used. Usually, gypsum can be spread as either a
solid or dissolved in irrigation water if ground to a fine
powder. For land application, gypsum sources in the
form of either a powder or granule can be applied
directly to the soil surface using conventional dry
material spinners or drop box spreaders . In cases
where the gypsum is in a powder form, application
during strong windy days should be avoided. If the
desire is to move the gypsum downward into the
subsoil as quickly as possible and if there is a need to
avoid and decrease erosion by wind and water, the
gypsum should be immediately incorporated into the
soil.

Page 45
FGD Network website: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/
agriculturalfgdnetwork.)

The time of application will also be different depending

on the reasons or benefits that are desired for the use
of gypsum. In reality, gypsum can be applied during
any season of the year, but other considerations
dictate the best times for application. Autumn
applications can be made as soon as crops are
harvested from the field. Autumn applications provide
several advantages compared to other seasons. The
fields are generally drier, making it easier to drive
heavy spreading equipment across the field without
damaging the soil. An autumn application allows time
for soil/gypsum reactions to take place so that the next
year’s crop can better take advantage of the gypsum
application.

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CHAPTER 6. ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIN
RELATED TO GYPSUM USE(PROBLEM
AND OBJECTIVE)
The relationship between costs and benefits, or the
cost/benefit ratio, is an important consideration for
whether use of gypsum as a soil amendment will be
adopted or sustained. Te costs associated with using
gypsum, including FGD gypsum, includes the costs of
purchasing the material, transporting it from the site of
generation to the site of use, and spreading it on the
land. Te benefits are most ofen associated with
increased crop yields.A preliminary economic survey of
eight farmers was conducted in northwestern Ohio. Te
farmers were selected as pairs, with one farmer in each
pair using no-tillage and approximately one ton of
gypsum per acre as part of the crop production system
and the other nearby farmer on the same soil type
using conventional tillage practices without gypsum.
The survey was conducted at the end of two cropping
years, and the costs of production and return above

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total costs were calculated in 2005. Te results can
compare these two cropping systems but
cannot unequivocally attribute all of the differences to
either only no-tillage or only gypsum. The differences
in return above total cost were primarily attributed to
lower costs, and not crop yield, associated with the NT
plus gypsum crop production system compared to the
CT minus gypsum crop production system. More
research is needed to determine the best soil types
and management practices that lead to potential
benefits of using gypsum as a soil amendment for
enhancing crop yield and farm profitability.

CHAPTER 7 ANALYTICAL AND TECHNICAL

SUPPORT

A. Sampling FGD Gypsum for Analysis To make the

most appropriate and environmentally responsible use
of new FGD gypsum sources, it is necessary to test the
FGD gypsum to accurately determine the
concentrations of its nutrients, calcium and sulfur. If
there is concern about its environmental impact,

Page 48
concentrations of other elements such as arsenic,
cadmium, lead, mercury, and selenium should also be
measured. For the test results to be meaningful, it is
important to obtain an adequate number of samples
that are representative of the stockpile of FGD gypsum.
The number of samples needed depends on the
variability of FGD gypsum. Te more variable the FGD
gypsum, the more samples are required. FGD gypsum
from different storage systems should be sampled
separately. The composition and concentrations of
elements of environmental concern in FGD gypsum
depend on the type of coal, scrubbing process,
and sorbent used in the desulfurization process.FGD
gypsum subsamples should be collected from at least
three representative locations in stockpiled gypsum
and at least 20 inches below the surface. At each spot,
a minimum of one pound of FGD gypsum should be
collected and put in a plastic bag. Total weight of the
sample will be about 3-5 pounds. Identify the sample
container with information regarding its source and a
date. Afer packaging, FGD gypsum samples may be
sent to the STAR Laboratory (http:// www.oardc.ohio-
state.edu/starlab/) at the Ohio Agricultural Research
and Development Center in Wooster, Ohio, for
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chemical analysis. FGD samples from five power plants
in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, North Dakota, and Ohio
were collected and sent to the Ohio Agricultural
Research and Development Center for relevant
agronomic analysis. Te results are provided in Table 6-
1. It is evident that FGD gypsum is an excellent source
of calcium and sulfur for supporting crop growth.
B. Sampling Soil for Analysis To obtain a representative
soil sample, sub samples must be collected from at
least three spots in each uniform field area from the
surface to 20 cm depth.
Approximately one-half pound of soil at each spot is
collected and put in a plastic bag. Total weight of a
sample is about two pounds. Identify the sample
container with information regarding the field and
date. Afer packaging, soil samples may be sent to the
STAR Laboratory at the Ohio Agricultural Research and
Development Center in Wooster, Ohio, or a
commercial laboratory of choice for chemical analysis.
For more information about soil sampling and analysis,
see the Ohio Agronomy Guide .

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CHAPTER 8 GYPSUM HANDELING AND
STORAGE

HANDLING AND TRANSPORTATION::

Gypsum, including FGD gypsum, is not combustible or
explosive. FGD gypsum is also not expected to produce
any unusual hazards during normal use. Under ordinary
conditions, no glasses or goggles, gloves and protecting
clothing, and respiratory protection are required for
handling of FGD gypsum. However, exposure to high
dust levels may irritate the skin, eyes, nose, throat, or
upper respiratory tract. Terefore, as much as possible,
minimize dust generation and accumulation and avoid
breathing FGD gypsum dust. In storage areas, provide
ventilation sufficient to control airborne dust levels. If
dust is being generated, wear the appropriate eye
protection, such as safety glasses or goggles, and a
dust respirator .

Page 51
Goggles and mask for eye and respiratory protection.

Page 52
FGD gypsum can build up or adhere to the walls of a
confined space, and the FGD gypsum can release,
collapse, or fall unexpectedly. To prevent burial or
suffocation, do not enter a confined space, such as a
silo, bin, bulk truck, or other storage container or
vessel that stores or contains FGD gypsum. FGD
gypsum is not classified or regulated. It is not like
hazardous materials that require Department of
Transportation shipping permission and
documentation for transportation. Depending on the
distance from the FGD gypsum source to locations
where FGD gypsum is used, trucks, rail cars, and river
barges may be used for FGD gypsum transportation.
Currently, the most common way to transport FGD
gypsum is by truck.

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The issue of transportation costs understandably arises
whenever potentially large volume uses of FGD
gypsum are proposed. Comparative generalized ship-
ping rates (cents per ton-mile) are lowest for barge,
intermediate for rail, and highest for truck transport.
Some rules of thumb that pertain to FGD transport is
that it can be transported up to 551 miles by barge,
211 miles by rail, but only 100 miles by truck before
the shipping costs exceed its value. If the source and
markets for the material are near a navigable
waterway or rail line, and assuming a 100-mile radius is
the truck transportation limit, material storage sites
located at 200-mile intervals along a rail line or barge
route could be set up for moving the FGD gypsum from
the utility to the farmer.

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GYPSUM STORAGE
FGD gypsum may be stored in the open or in a covered
structure . FGD gypsum storage should accomplish the
following goals: (1) Minimize water interaction; (2)
reduce dust; (3) balance capital investment, cash flow
requirements, and labor costs, and (4) maintain good
physical condition of the FGD gypsum for spreading.
FGD gypsum storage is needed to provide handling and
spreading flexibility. Spreading is ofen seasonal and
needs to be scheduled to avoid wet ground, poor
weather conditions, growing crops, and conditions
conducive to causing pollution. Storage areas or
facilities should be constructed to minimize any
potential dust, surface water runoff problems, and
access by animals through proper fencing. Although
higher in cost, a covered structure may be practical
due to improved handling conditions, less or no surface
water runoff, and less spreading of dust. Dewatered
gypsum stored in a roofed storage shed without side
walls may need a wind screen to prevent dusting. FGD
gypsum stored outside will generally form a crust that
helps shed water and prevents dusting so long as it is

Page 55
undisturbed. If the crust is broken, a dusting problem
may result.

(From the FGD Network website: http://www.oardc.ohio-

state.edu/
agriculturalfgdnetwork.)

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CHAPTER 9 TYPES OF GYPSUM
GRANULES

WHITE:

Page 57
BLACK:

RED:

Page 58
CHAPTER 10 LITERATURE RIVIEW OF
GYPSUM GRANULES
Gypsum is used in agriculture for the
following purposes:
* as an ameliorant for sodium-affected
(sodic) soils which occur mainly in arid
areas and is therefore of minor interest in
this report,
* as a source of the nutrients calcium (Ca)
and sulfur (S) required by all crops,
* as an ameliorant for the subsoil acidity
syndrome which commonly afflicts soils in
the Southeast, and
* as an ameliorant for crust and seal
formation at the soil surface, a condition
commonly encountered in the sandy
textured soils of the Southeast.
This report has been prepared for the
Florida Institute of Phosphate Research
(FIPR) with the following objectives:
* to independently assess the published
experimental evidence on gypsum use in
agriculture in the Southeastern United
States and in Florida in particular, and
* to compare the gypsum application rate
Page 59
assumed by the EPA in their calculations to
actual field practice by computing both on a
lb/ac per yr basis.
To achieve these objectives, a thorough
literature review was undertaken in an
attempt to survey all citations so that the
final outcome cannot be contested on the
basis of a limited data set.

Page 60
CHAPTER 11.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
The whole study can be learned as a desk research
Hence their is a field work and collection of primery
data from the employees though questionaries for this
research except secondary information obtained from
internet ,journals and magzines

Page 61
CHAPTER 12
SUGGESTION AND CONCLUSION
SUGGESTION:
BY MARKETING WE CAN MAKE AWARE THE FARMER
ABOUT THE NEGETIVE EFFECT OF THE DAP AND UREA
AND ENCOURRAGE THEM TO USE GYPSUM.
CONCLUSION:
THE OVER ALL THING IS THAT THEIR IS NO SIDE EFFECT
IT CAN BE USE AT EVERY FIELD AND FOR EFFECTIVE
LAND AND CROP

Page 62
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.WORK EXPERIENCE
2 INTERNET
3 INDIAMART.COM

4 Schlossberg, M. 2006. Turfgrass growth and water

use in gypsum-treated ultisols. Presented at the
workshop on Research and Demonstration of
Agricultural Uses of Gypsum and Other FGD Materials.
September 2006, St. Louis, Mo.
http://www.oardc.ohio-
state.edu/agriculturalfgdnetwork/workshop_files/
presentation/Session1/Schlossberg-Turfgrass%20
Growth%20and%20Water%20Use.ppt.
Scott, W. D., B. D. McCraw, J. E. Motes, and M. W.

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THE END

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THANK YOU

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