I forwarded your query on ground drywall to an extension Soil Fertility
specialist at Auburn University. His reply follows:
>Return-Path: <cmitchel@acenet.auburn.edu>
>Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 15:46:57 -0600 (CST)
>From: "Charles C. Mitchell Jr." <cmitchel@acenet.auburn.edu>
>X-Sender: cmitchel@aces1
>To: Dennis Shannon <dshannon@ag.auburn.edu>
>Subject: Re: Gypsum
>
>Dennis:
> Yes. We have a big extension project developing in Northeast Alabama
>around land application of ground waste drywall from the modular home
>manufacturing business in that area. We currently have an on-farm
>demonstration in Lauderdale County with ground drywall on alfalfa.
>Research has shown that high rates of gypsum on alfalfa increase yield
>and stand longevity by improving soil structure, reducing Al toxicity in
>subsoils, increasing rooting depth, and/or providing Ca to Rhizobia.
> Drywall is mostly gypsum and gypsum is a well recognized soil amendment
>for improving both soil structure (i.e. aggregation) and providing Ca and
>sulfate-S. As you know, it is used frequently on peanuts and vegetable
>crops. Some research has been done in NY state with land application of
>drywall. We're mainly interested in just using the land to get rid of
>it. I doubt if it would be worth it to a farmer to pay to have it land
>applied except in very specific circumstances.
>
>Charles Mitchell
>
>
>> >Return-Path: <almanac-request@amani.ces.ncsu.edu>
>> >From: MarketFarm@aol.com
>> >Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 13:38:33 -0500
>> >To: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu
>> >Subject: Gypsum
>> >
>> >I'm doing some remodeling and have amassed quite a pile of gypsum wallboard
>> >scrap. Rather than hauling it to the landfill, I'm thinking about running it
>> >through a chipper-shredder and using it as a soil supplement. Has anyone
>> >tried this? Is it feasible or advisable?
>> >
>> >Michael Hofferber
>> >Shoshone, Idaho
>> >
Dennis A. Shannon
Department of Agronomy and Soils
202 Funchess Hall
Auburn University, Alabama 36849-5412
Telephone: 334-844-3963
Facsimile: 334-844-3945
E-mail: dshannon@ag.auburn.edu