Excellent question — and I’m glad you asked, because gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate, CaSO₄·2H₂O) is one of those products that gets tossed around a lot in turf management, but the “why” behind it is often misunderstood.
Let’s break it down clearly and tie it directly to what you’re seeing in your Bermuda:
Why Gypsum Helps Bermuda in West Texas
1. It Replaces Sodium with Calcium
San Angelo and much of West Texas have alkaline, calcareous soils with high sodium from irrigation water or fertilizer salts.
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Sodium (Na⁺) binds to soil particles and disperses the soil structure, causing poor infiltration and tight compaction.
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Gypsum supplies soluble calcium (Ca²⁺), which displaces sodium from the soil exchange sites.
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The displaced sodium is then flushed deeper into the soil profile with irrigation.
Result: Better soil structure, improved oxygen exchange, and roots can breathe again — which directly reduces stolon dieback and shallow rooting.
2. It Improves Water Infiltration and Reduces Crusting
When sodium dominates, water tends to puddle or run off instead of soaking in.
After gypsum, soil particles re-flocculate (aggregate properly), allowing water to move through the root zone.
That means:
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Less drought stress.
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Fewer “hardpan” zones under the Bermuda.
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Faster recovery from compaction or drought.
3. It Lowers Soil Salinity Stress
Even when pH doesn’t change much, gypsum reduces soluble salt levels.
That helps root hairs function normally — which means better uptake of nitrogen and potassium, both of which are essential for green stolon growth.
Visible symptom tie-in:
When salt stress occurs, stolon tips bleach, leaves curl slightly, and you’ll see weak regrowth exactly like your photo.
4. It’s pH-Neutral (Unlike Lime)
A key point for West Texas:
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Lime raises pH (you don’t need that).
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Gypsum does not affect pH significantly, but it still corrects calcium deficiency and soil structure issues.
🧪 Application Guidelines
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Rate: 5–10 lbs per 1,000 sq ft for turf areas (higher rates for sod fields or severe issues).
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Timing: Fall and spring are ideal, when you can follow up with a deep irrigation cycle.
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Follow-up: Water immediately after application with at least ½" irrigation to move gypsum into the root zone.
👨🌾 In Your Case:
That Bermuda stolon is showing root dehydration and tip dieback, most likely from compaction and high sodium accumulation in the surface layer.
Gypsum + aeration + deep watering will open the soil, flush salts, and rebuild fine root hairs.
Would you like me to write this up as a short customer-friendly BMP sheet titled “Using Gypsum to Restore Stressed Bermuda in West Texas” — with bullet points on why, how, and how much to apply? It’d make a good counter handout or web page.