When it comes to gypsum and other soil ameliorants like agricultural lime, not all products are equal.

This led to the creation of a range of innovative and unique flowable gypsum and lime-based products developed by Ultimate Products more than 20 years ago.

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then Ultimate Products should be very flattered indeed as its original concept has spurned a number of ‘me-too’ products in the marketplace.

However, GYP-FLO has remained a firm favourite among long-time users for its unique chemistry and fine (5 micron) particle size that provides a stable formulation which remains in suspension without causing clogging or other issues when used in fertigation systems.

Managing director, Glenn McDonald started off as a vegetable grower in 1983 and was always interested in new technology. He started to research new liquid suspensions to replace "the old" bulk gypsum and lime, and by mid 1999 GYP-FLO and pH PLUS were released to the market.

GYP-FLO is a liquid suspension of calcium and sulphur applied to improve soil structure by reducing sodium build-up and increasing calcium levels in the soil, Mr McDonald said. "GYP-FLO is much easier to handle and apply via boom spray, drip systems and overhead irrigation compared to the spreading of bulk gypsum.

“GYP-FLO is also a great source of calcium and sulphur for plant nutrition and its benefits have made it a mainstay source of nutrition among leading corporate horticultural growers, including intensive vegetable production and tree crops.”

Today, both products are still leaders due to their suspension technology and effectiveness in their results. The fine particle size makes the elemental calcium and sulphur in GYP-FLO immediately and uniformly available to plants, giving much greater ‘bang for buck’ than any bulk or dry formulations.

Mr McDonald said it was important that users knew what they were buying as the definition of ‘gypsum’ currently varies from state to state.

According to the CSIRO Australia Soil Fertility Manual (2000), gypsum is defined by regulations in some states as material containing the sulfate salt of calcium (Ca) in either hydrated or anhydrous form where the amount of that salt in the material is not less than 50%.

In most states the label or the advice notice must state the grade of the gypsum. In some states, the percentage of gypsum capable of passing through at 2mm sieve must be specified. The generally agreed standards are for the three grades of natural mined gypsum. These range from a minimum of 12.5%–19% calcium and 10%–15% sulphur for bulk gypsum.

The technology in GYP-FLO provides 35% calcium w/v and 25% sulphur which delivers a much higher concentration in a more available form (more than 80% available to the plant).

The product has been adopted by horticulturists, broadacre growers and also for revegetation sites; as industrial lime in the construction industries; for soil stabilisation; and for export markets.

Ultimate Products first started supplying the horticultural sector in June 1997 with a small range of three products. Some 23 years on, Ultimate has developed a product portfolio of 12 solutions that are supplied to agriculture, horticulture, construction and other export markets and remains a leader in its field.