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  5. Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)

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Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)

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mikky

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Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« on: February 25, 2015, 21:53 »
Hi guys N gals, fairly new to the site, lurking and learning the last couple of weeks!
I hope this is the correct category, as I have a question for you:
Can I use old broken up plasterboard--(without the backing)--as a way of liming our veg beds?
I have loads of it and have an idea that I will let it dry out--(its a tad wet at the minute)--crumble it up and dig it into the beds, or just throw it on if its powdery in substance.
Would this be ok to do, or are there other chemicals in the plasterboard as well as the usual gypsum which would make this idea impracticable?
Your thoughts please and.....keep up the good work, it really is a good site, I'm staying!!Mikky 
« Last Edit: February 26, 2015, 18:45 by Yorkie »
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Yorkie

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2015, 18:46 »
Hi mikky

I've split your post from the nitrogen thread as it's not about nitrogen  ;) :D
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jrko

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2015, 20:32 »
If you can find out what it's made from and that there's no nasty additives, bonding agents etc and that it IS a good source of lime then why not?
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JayG

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2015, 21:10 »
Lime in its various forms, and gypsum are both calcium salts - both should help clay soils become less sticky, but only lime will raise the pH - gypsum will have little effect on that one way or the other.
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mikky

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2015, 21:14 »
Thank you muchly for the replies!
We have eight raised beds, I'll try it out on a couple of them and see what occurs.
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Salmo

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2015, 21:51 »
Quote from: JayG on February 26, 2015, 21:10
Lime in its various forms, and gypsum are both calcium salts - both should help clay soils become less sticky, but only lime will raise the pH - gypsum will have little effect on that one way or the other.

Where clay soils need no lime then gypsum can be used to improve flocculation (breaking into a crumbly structure) without making them excessively alkaline.
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colin120

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2015, 22:38 »
Quote from:  http://www.gpda.com/healthAndSafety
In addition to its uses in building products and soil improvement, gypsum is also widely used in bread and dough mixes, as a stabiliser in other foodstuffs, as an aid to juice extraction in fruits and vegetables and to stimulate plant growth. Gypsum has no known adverse effect on health.
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andimac

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2015, 11:30 »
Can cement also be used in this way? I'm about to build a base with concrete and slabs for my impending greenhouse delivery and I expect I may have a spare amount afterwards. I'd quite like to spread it on the raised beds but what are the risk? There wouldn't be enough to set!
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JayG

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #8 on: February 28, 2015, 11:42 »
Wouldn't fancy it myself, although it would provide an excuse for having soil which sets like concrete!  :lol:

It contains a lot of lime, which will raise the pH of your soil, and unless you mean the cement only, it will also contain aggregate, which again may or may not be beneficial for your soil.
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beesrus

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #9 on: February 28, 2015, 12:50 »
Quote from:  http://www.gpda.com/healthAndSafety
In addition to its uses in building products and soil improvement, gypsum is also widely used in bread and dough mixes, as a stabiliser in other foodstuffs, as an aid to juice extraction in fruits and vegetables and to stimulate plant growth. Gypsum has no known adverse effect on health.

There's a lot of things put in food for general consumption that I wouldn't dream of putting on my plot.
I see enough of gypsum plasterboard when working, without seeing it clog up my soil....euuughh !
I wouldn't trust the glues used in any building product. Some things just don't sit right. :nowink:
« Last Edit: February 28, 2015, 12:51 by beesrus »
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8doubles

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #10 on: February 28, 2015, 13:09 »
Years ago the gypsum they used for plasterboard was often 2nd hand, it had been sprayed into power station chimneys to absorb and neutralise some of the nasties in the smoke.

If they are still using flue gas gypsum i think i would give it a miss !
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solway cropper

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2015, 21:20 »
Before putting anything on your plot I'd check to see if you actually need it. Randomly applying stuff in the hope it might be beneficial can cause more problems than you anticipate. Having said that, gypsum (calcium sulphate) is fairly inert but some types of plasterboard have other things added which you might not want.
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mikky

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #12 on: March 31, 2015, 23:31 »
Thank you so much everyone for you valuable input.
We have eight beds, and will try this on two of them.
We shall see how we get on!
Thank you once again.
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simonwatson

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #13 on: April 01, 2015, 09:49 »
There's almost certainly some form of anti fungal additive in there. I'd try it in a pot rather than a whole bed or two. If it contains anything long lasting you'll have to clear the whole bed of soil.
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mikky

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Re: Plasterboard as source of lime? (from mikky)
« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2015, 22:00 »
Ahh yes, start small, go big if its needed and it works!
Thank you!
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