Improvement of Alkali Soil by Gypsum and Fly Ash from Desulfurization Process of Coal Combustion Furnace.

Alkali soil harmfully affects the growth of most vegetation mainly due to its high pH caused by sodium carbonate. Calcium sulfate has been known as a chemical for improving this soil, because calcium ion dissolved from it substitutes sodium ion in the exchange site of the clay in the soil.The object of this research is to investigate an effect of desulfurization gypsum on the growth of wheat on the alkali soil. In the northern part of China, the soil is widely distributed and needed to be improved in order to increase the agricultural products. The use of desulfurization gypsum for the improvement of the alkali soil is paid attention for the possibility to promote the construction of desulfurization units.The experiment on the growth of the wheat was carried out on the soil imported from Shen Yang in China. It showed that 0.5 wt% of desulfurization gypsum provides a greater harvest than the case of the control. According to the benefit estimation with the ratio of 0.5 wt% CaSO4·2H2O, desulfurization units in Paotou in the Inner Mongolia will bring gypsum to 130 thousands of farmers in this area, if they are installed.