Soil conditioners are increasingly popular in UK arable farming. Especially amongst farmers operating regenerative practises. But the term soil conditioner is very rarely defined, and this has led to a lack of uptake in the farming community until recent years.
For simplicity; soil conditioners are products applied to soils to improve the conditions for growing crops.
Some of the most common modes of actions for soil conditioners include:
- Altering the availability of nutrients already present in the soil.
- Improving the nutrient holding capacity of the soil.
- Improving soil soil structure.
- Example Eutrema product = Liquid Gypsum.
- 3rd party example = manure!
- Improving water holding capacity or water penetration.
- Example Eutrema product = Yucca Extract.
- 3rd party example = polyacrylamide gel.
Soil conditioners can be differentiated from:
- Fertilisers, because, whilst they may alter the availability of a nutrient, their primary aim is not to add extra nutrients.
- Pesticides, because their primary aim is not to kill pests or pathogens.
- Biostimulants, because they are not primarily acting directly at improving plant growth. Instead they are acting on the soil, which in turn will hopefully make it more conducive to healthy plant growth.
If you would like to know more about soil conditioners or discuss their use on your farm, please get in touch with our technical team.
27 Comments
I have a doggy daycare with a clay based soil. If I used this on our field how long before dogs can safely go back on it? Thanks
It is non-hazardous to pets, so immediately. thanks. Russ
Hi We seeded around 1500m2 of land around a new build on what was a farmyard and have patches where the water doesn’t drain well, likley due to compaction or possibly presence of clay or both! The soil composition is very variable across the site and there is some clay in places. The grass was sown in late October so still very young shoots. When would it be safe to treat it with the liquid gypsum? Thank you.
Hi Leila, yes safe to treat. It is designed to be applied to established lawns, crops, etc.
Hello. I’m a landscaper in Cardiff. I get regular enquiries for this. If someone asks me to help with their waterlogged garden, do you have any suggestions to aid the process? I’d prefer to spend a few hours to justify my time there. Should I spike the ground with a fork? Mow the lawn? Thank you. Dave
Hi David
Thanks for getting in touch
If the clay is not at the surface then spiking will help get the diluted solution down to the clay causing the issue. I would also put sprinklers on afterwards for a bit if the clay is not in the top soil to drive it down.
I would go on with our wetting agent (Clay Drainer) two weeks later to also help further with drainage.
For spring fertiliser and seaweed treatments will also help promote root growth and dry out the top soil.
Geo-injection is another surface that could be offered to help with drainage (as a better option to french or land drains) but would need equipment investment.
Russell
If l use your product on grazing land for horses, how long should l keep the horses off the land for please?
It is non-hazardous to animals and humans. For added peace of mind, apply just before it rains so that it gets washed off the foliage.
Russ
How
We have approx 3 acres which becomes waterlogged in the winter. You can hardly walk on it without loosing your wellies.
We have horses on the land, one of which gets mud fever so can’t go on in winter and we certainly can’t take any tractors or equipment on until early summer when it then becomes bone dry with all the divers.
Any suggestions ?
Liquid Gypsum when it dries out. Diluted product needs to get into the clay on the day you apply it, so do not apply to wet mud.
Russ
Hi Russell
I’m the greenkeeper at a bowling green which is built on a clay base with around 6″ of root zone, whilst we areate regularly and it drains quite well. Would the green benefit form an application of liquid gypsum?
If it would how much should we apply the green is 1220m2, our sprayer capacity is 25 litres.
Hi David, For that area I would apply 50 litres of Liquid Gypsum diluted according to the dilution rates on our product page for Liquid Gypsum. You could reduce the water volume if you put the sprinklers on afterwards to save time lugging all the water around. Do not apply if the soil is soaking wet.
You can also use a watering can instead of a sprayer if that is faster as this product is a root drench, not a foliar feed.
Hope this helps.
Russ
Hi, we have artificial grass in our back garden, it’s on a slight slope, when there is heavy rain it pools at the bottom of the slope, can I just use the gypsum on the top of the artificial grass? Or is there a better product to help the drainage due to the clay soil?
David
As long as it is permeable, then yes you can use it.
Hi Russell
This product sounds great. I have a field of approx 2 acres (at a height of 650ftabove sea level) and about 4/5 inches down is clay and the land gets a bit “Squelchy” in areas. If I spray the land, when it is very dry, how does the product get down to the clay ? will it not stay near the surface and evaporate ? Should I do it after a dry spell, but when light rain due, to help wash it down into the clay ?
Kind regards
Nigel
Looking for a way to improve the waterlogged lawn. I have French drainage and a soak away which has improved the time it takes to drain from days to hours. Would the product help as the lawn remains damp soggy but dries out and cracks IF we have a summer. PS I have a female dog as well so I know that will stain the grass.
We live on a flood plain. Under about three inches of top soil the ground is solid clay down at least two feet. Would liquid gypsum help our drainage?
Hi Ian
Yes, if you can get it INTO the clay when it has dried out a bit. Could be summer before that section dries out though.
Also, the water needs somewhere to go, so if it is just a case of a high water table, then the only thing that would help then would be a dam and a pump.
Russ
Hi we do gardening work and are often asked to dig French drains is this an alternative to such invasive drainage methods? Does it work after one application? Does it require an annual application to continue keeping the garden drained? Would love more overall information. Thanks Rob
Hi Rob
Yes, it was designed for situations where digging/ploughing is not possible. It works on the day of application, but we advise that you do not apply until the soil has dried out a bit. That way it can get sucked into the clay on the day it is applied, rather than just sitting on the outside. You should then start to see an effect the next time there is a downpour. Also see our blog post for 9 other alternatives to French Drains!
Liquid Gypsum is not a magic bullet, and we recommend you apply it once or twice a year.
Regards
Dr Russell Sharp
This product may be helpful in our garden – we live in a ‘new-build’ and the ground is definitely heavy clay. Whatever we do doesn’t seem to help (I understand it’s early days yet, and there’s more work required) our main problem at the moment is that the ground is sodden and we can’t walk on it – I accept that rainfall has been exceptional – what’s not completely clear to me is whether I would need to wait for a dry period before using this product, or can I apply it to the soaking wet lawn / borders? Thanks for your help.
Hi Laurie
It would help with aeration and drainage in the clay. For bst results wait until the clay has dried to a point where it will take up the diluted product when it is applied. If you apply it when it is soaking wet then the product won’t be able to get into the clay on the day it is applied (it works on the day it is applied).
Thanks for your interest.
Russell
Thanks, Russel – that’s helpful.
Can I use this Grass was laid last sept on a heavy clay soil garden now it’s like a mud bath as the rain water can’t drain into the soil . Would liquid gypsum break some the clay
Thanks
Hi Andrea. Yes, it is perfect for use on newly established turf.
We give full instructions on how to use it in these conditions on the bottle.
Regards
Russell
Hello. We rent 4/5 acres of grazing land 4 different fields. The top field highest up the hill has standing water on the top of the grass, the rain is taking ages to soak away.
Would your liquid gypsum product help with our issues? Is it suitable to used on grazing land for our horses.
Hi Gary, thanks for your interest. Yes, Liquid Gypsum will help flocculate the clay in the top soil and sub soil. However, you will need to wait until the soil has dried out (hopefully later this spring or in the summer). That is because the product needs to get down to the clay within hours of being applied. If you were to apply it tomorrow it would just sit on the surface with all the other water. Obviously not the advise you want right now, and not great for our sales, but should prove the greatest chance of success.
Yes, will be fine to use on grazing land with horses and other livestock.
Best of luck
Russell