Description
Magnesium sulfate is an inorganic salt with the formula (MgSO4x7H2O)x where .
It is often encountered as the heptahydrate sulfate mineral Epsomite (MgSO4x7H2O), commonly called Epsom salt.
Epsom salt has been traditionally used as a component of bath salts.
Epsom salt can also be used as a beauty product.
Athletes use it to soothe sore muscles, while gardeners use it to improve crops. It has a variety of other uses: for example, Epsom salt is also effective in the removal of splinters.
In agriculture, magnesium sulfate is used to increase magnesium or sulfur content in the soil.
It is most commonly applied to potted plants, or to magnesium-hungry crops, such as potatoes, roses, tomatoes, lemon trees, carrots, and peppers.
The advantage of magnesium sulfate over other magnesium soil amendments (such as dolomitic lime) is its high solubility, which also allows the option of foliar feeding.
Solutions of magnesium sulfate are also nearly neutral, compared with alkaline salts of magnesium as found in limestone; therefore, the use of magnesium sulfate as a magnesium source for soil does not significantly change the soil pH.