Soil compaction can be prevented by not plowing or driving machinery on soil when it is too wet. The compaction in many but not all soils can be decreased with gypsum, especially when combined with deep tillage to break up the compaction. Combination with organic amendments also helps, especially in preventing return of the compactions. To Till Soils that have been treated with gypsum have a wider range of soil moisture levels where it is safe to till without danger of compaction or deflocculation. This is accompanied with greater ease of tillage and more effective seedbed preparation and weed control.
Less energy is needed for the tillage.
It is protection against excess water runoff from especially large storms that are accompanied with erosion. These values are in the range of acceptability for growth of most crop plants. Probably more than one mechanism is involved. These reactions can decrease the incidence of lime and bicarbonate induced iron deficiency. Improves Swelling Clays Gypsum can decrease the swelling and cracking associated with high levels of exchangeable sodium on the montmorillonite-type clays.