Solubility is Key

When looking for a quality gypsum, there are 3 factors to keep in mind: purity, fineness of grind, and solubility. The easiest way to determine the maximum value you will get in your gypsum choice is to look at the label on the bag. Each bag is required by law to tell you the purity (guaranteed analysis) and fineness of grind (% passing through mesh).

Not all gypsums are the same. In the turf world, there are 2 types you will generally find. The first type is called Anhydrite gypsum (CaSO4). This type of gypsum is very insoluble and very low in purity. Anhydrite gypsum has a much higher level of Ca associated with the material, but because the material is very insoluble, that high level of Ca is not plant available. The second type of gypsum is called Dihydrate gypsum (CaSO4*2H2O). This type of gypsum has 2 additional molecules of water associated within the gypsum crystals. The addition of these 2 water molecules is key to solubility, increasing the solubility of the crystal by nearly 5X. Dihydrate gypsum is valuable because the gypsum crystals have not been weathered and the moisture has not been baked out of it. Because of these facts, the purity of the dyhydrate is nearly 100% pure.

Be sure to check out this video from Pace Turf, which explains the differences between Anhydrite and Dihydrate gypsum in more detail.

For over 5 years, ProGro Solutions and Calcium Products have partnered together to provide ProGro’s customers the purest gypsum source in the industry the SuperCal SO4 material by Calcium Products is mined from the purest source of calcium on the planet, regularly tested at 92-95% pure CaSO4*2H20. It is ground to the finest mesh size in the industry with nearly 75% passing through 200 mesh. Because it is so pure and ground so fine, the solubility of the SuperCal SO4 gypsum is unsurpassed, with nearly 80% of the Ca and S plant available within 24 hours. Calcium Products manufactures the SuperCal SO4 in 3 SGN sizes, SO4 (240+ SGN), SO4M (120 SGN), and SO4UGG (60 SGN), with all sizes available from your ProGro sales representative.

Golf courses around the world choose SuperCal to improve soil quality and improve playablity and it all started in our backyard with Spring Valley Golf Course in Livermore, Iowa! Check out the video below to learn more.

For additional product information from Calcium Products, either visit our website at www.calciumproducts.com or check with your ProGro Solutions sales representative.

Brian Milan
Calcium Products Territory Sales Manager-Professional Turf Global Territory