Description

Magnesium Sulphate is also known as Epsom Salt. It’s a chemical compound made up of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen. The main use of magnesium sulfate is in agriculture, to correct soils deficient in magnesium (an essential plant nutrient). In agriculture, magnesium sulfate is used to increase magnesium or sulfur content in soil. It is most commonly applied to potted plants, or to magnesium-hungry crops, such as potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, lemons, and roses. 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 pH 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. Magnesium sulfate is used both externally (as Epsom salt) and internally. Other than Agriculture it is also widely used is the formulation as bath salts, especially for foot baths to soothe sore feet. Such baths have been claimed to also soothe and hasten recovery of muscle pain, soreness, or injury. The main benefit of the salt is cosmetic: it prevents the temporary skin wrinkling caused by prolonged immersion in plain water. It is also the usual component of the solution used in isolation tanks.