Thanks. Sounds great.

Hi Carol, thanks for sharing this, and for trying to improve his writing.

Thank you Ken for you thoughtful comment. I'm glad that you've enjoyed the videos. Thanks for giving me a great idea for a future video :). I'll add that to my list. I wish you the best a you approach retirement too. I share your sentiment about becoming more philosophical. One thing that I think a lot about is this latter part of my career is the need to get all the good data that I've collected published in peer-reviewed journals and then shared in ways (i.e., videos) that are easily understood and that help the ag community that I serve. Your comment inspired me to look up some literature on this. Here are two papers I found and enjoyed reading (I'm sure that are more). www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05715-8 www.nature.com/articles/521020a If you're not able to access either of these, email me and I'll send you a PDF.

Hi Chandler, thanks for the nice comment. I am very fortunate to have been able to work here and to play a small part in helping the innovative ag industry. Looking forward to continuing to do so, and helping the next generation continue this important research.

You're welcome.

Great. Glad it helped. Thanks for letting me know.

Thanks

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks. You're welcome.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Thanks

Thanks. It was fun to make.

Sounds good.

You're welcome.

Thanks for the nice comment.

Thanks. I like your idea and would love to hear how it works. If the field doesn't have much crop residue, it may work well. If there's lots of residue in the cultivation are it might build up on the straps and then cause them to bend out of shape. Just a thought.

Thanks. I understand the concerns and environmental problems with plastic mulch in strawberry production,, but it is standard practice in organic and conventional strawberry production in California and elsewhere. It helps with many issues (weed suppression, disease, etc.), but is not easy to recycle. The plastic is only used for single season and then is typically disposed in garbage when the strawberry crop is terminated. There are efforts to find alternatives that biodegrade, but these are no common California. Here's are links to learn more publications.extension.uconn.edu/2022/06/03/soil-biodegradable-plastic-mulch-is-it-right-for-you/ phys.org/news/2022-09-biodegradable-plastic-mulch-climate-smart-agricultural.html

Thanks. I'm glad you like it.

Thanks for the comment. Other materials (other than recycled strapping) that could be used include worn out blades from a band saw, strapping from a large hose clamp.

Hi Paul, Sorry for the delay getting back to you. Send me an email ([email protected]) and I'll be happy to send you some close up photos of the equipment. Take care, Eric

You're welcome Ravi. Thanks for the comment and for tipping off others to avoid making this common mistake. Best of luck with your cover crop research. Sorry for the delay responding.

Hi, sorry I don't have specific costs on this but here's link to a company (Nitricity) that's working on this that might be of interest to you. take care, Eric www.nitricity.co/renewable-nitrogen-fertilizer-pioneer

Thanks Dave for your comment. I'm glad you found the paper and video helpful. That's my goal. Take care, Eric

And how is Soil diversity defined

Here's a paper that defines it. Karlen D.L., M.J. Mausbach, J.W. Doran, R.G. Cline, R.F. Harris, G.E. Schuman. 1997. Soil quality: A concept, definition, and framework for evaluation. Soil Science Society of America Journal 61:4-10. www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/21904/Others%20PDFs/Soil%20Sci%20Soc%20Am%20J%2061p4.pdf

Thank you so much!

You're welcome

I read through the paper. Lots of good stuff and was glad to see there was mention of the soil microbiology. Though wasn’t elaborated on. Have you thought about producing a video on this topic and what role the microbiology plays in plant development? You do such a great job of explaining such technical topics. I’m beginning to liken soil health with our own gut health. If the soil and gut microbiome is healthy, and all the microbes are present doing their thing to digest the food we give them, then our bodies and plants benefit…improved quality of life and greater crop yields, resiliency from pests/disease and nutritional value (crop quality). Your thoughts?

Thanks. It was good fun. : ) Practice, practice, practice... and many years of dropping the ball & experimenting with different ways to communicate my science. Here are a few more fun videos where I've integrated juggling. -Cover cropping is like juggling. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGnch3emnaegbZo -Scientist celebrates KZbin for Science Communication by Juggling to Pharrell Williams’ HAPPY song (Narrative & Music). kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJeQXpl4ariUeKM

I watched a couple of those already. Shuffling down the rows while folks are working!!!! hysterical. @@EricBrennanOrganic

Thanks. Glad you liked the video. Interesting question. Why not just put the cardboard on the soil as a weed barrier around a tree, shrub or perennial grass, then cover it in some other mulch (leaves, wood chips, etc.) and let it decompose naturally over time? In a few months the cardboard will likely be gone. Earthworms in the soil, and other critters (sow bugs, etc.) will help with the break down of the cardboard.

@@EricBrennanOrganic I could do it in my garden around an electric fence but were in a drought I will put some out there. Tried it around my trees ounce and the coons and skunks dug for grubs at night. I had cardboard blowing everywhere it was a mess lol.

Sounds good. I had the same problem once with cardboard mulch attracting wild pigs to root for earthworms under trees. The pigs damaged the trees.

Thank you for your comment and support, and for your important work of writing for CCAs. When scientists write, we need to keep our readers our readers in mind. For me that means trying to make sentence in my papers as easy to read as possible. I also means telling a story about my data that is accurate, interesting, engaging, and easy to understand. My readers may include CCAs (certified crop advisors), farmers, growers, scientists, extension agents, farm advisors, students, and the general public. Here's a good paper that you & others may enjoy. Freeling B., Z.A. Doubleday, S.D. Connell. 2019. How can we boost the impact of publications? Try better writing. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 116:341-343. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1819937116 Thanks for recommending "On Writing Well", I'll get a copy today, and look forward to reading it. Here are links for readers to learn more about the importance of the CCAs CCAs-Who Are They and What Do They Do?acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/csan.20249 www.certifiedcropadviser.org/files/certifiedcropadviser/promotional-materials/prospective-cca-tsa-brochure-web.pdf

Thank you David for the comments and for your support on this issue. I'm hopeful and increasingly confident that the ASA-CSSA-SSSA editorial boards will be open to the suggested changes. Several years ago a former editor of the Agronomy Journal (AJ) (Bullock, D. 2008, Letter from the editor. Agron J. 100:236) wrote some insightful words that are worth repeating and relevant the challenge described in my video. He said: "I also encourage all of our readers, reviewers, and authors to let me know what you think about where AJ is going and where we are. Are we serving the role that we need to serve? What can we change to better address our charge? I am also very interested in hearing about your experiences with the AJ editorial review process. If there exists somewhere out there individuals for whom all of your experiences with AJ have been wonderful then I would love to hear the compliments. I will certainly pass them on. On the other hand, if your experiences have been, as one young author told me, more akin to a drive-by shooting than a constructive review process then I would like to hear those complaints as well. I cannot guarantee you that we can fi x every problem immediately, but I do promise you that your voice will be heard. Th is is our journal and we can make what we want of it. Th e only thing that is set in stone is that we strive to be the best at what we do and the product of our labors is to be of high quality. Everything else is open for debate." Here's a link to download his letter www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/21904/Others%20PDFs/Agron%20J%20100p236.pdf

Thanks Arun for the compliment on the video and for being honest about your errors. That's how we learn and improve. I'm glad you'll be able to use this in your classes. Take care, Eric

Thanks for attending the video-making workshop and for sharing the video and paper with other cover crop researchers.

Thanks for the comment. It was fun to make. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps you students.

Thanks for the supportive comments and highlighting the need for us to be better communicators across a range of audiences. I'm glad you liked the video.

Thanks for your comment. I downloaded a copy of the book and scanned through chapter 4. It's striking how different the writing style was back then to now. I read that the author is highlighting the value of manures, compost, etc. and questioning the use of synthetic nitrogen. But that's not my message here in this video. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your comment, please clarify if you like. My message here in this video is on the value of using winter cover crops in rotations with high-value vegetables. Much of this benefit from cover copping comes from the ability of the cover crops to scavenge nitrogen left from one season and recycle it back into the soil in the spring prior to the following crop. This recycling N helped to increase subsequent vegetable yields. In addition, the cover crops add organic matter that benefits various organisms in the soil soil food web, and improve soil physical characteristics. My research was in an organic system, but I would expect to see similar benefits from cover crops in a conventional system that used synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. As I pointed out near the end of the video, much of the nitrogen in the 'organic' fertilizers that are used in organic systems here, began as synthetic nitrogen. Here's a link to that other video. Sustainability problems with 'repackaged' synthetic nitrogen in organic agriculture. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXjNk6GZnbWbopo

Yes…thank you for the reply and I have been exploring your other videos as well. You do a great job and I did come across the repackaged synthetic nitrogen link. I wasn’t entirely convinced I’m afraid. As I am coming from an environmental planning perspective, I take an cross disciplinary analytical approach which has led me down the path of microbiology and it’s role in creating healthy soil. The ability of nitrifying bacteria to convert nitrogen from the atmosphere and decaying plant material through the composting process into the different forms of nitrogen in the soil that the plants can take up was a huge piece to my understanding of the nitrogen cycle. The microbiology field provides an amazing depth of understanding about soil health and the role microbes play in feeding the plant. In essence, I have come to learn that it is the microbes in the soil we need to feed and protect versus feeding the plant. Your thoughts on this? I think perhaps this is where the disconnect is in the arguments for/against synthetic fertilizer. So much is happening below ground that I am not finding explained by soil scientists which focus primarily on the chemical elements and physical properties needed for optimal plant growth. I loved the video on the contribution hedgegrows provide and the biology it supports above ground. Looking to understand more of how microbiology is viewed and understood in your work. Thank you for all you do to educate the public on this subject.

Glad you like the videos, thanks. The book (Enriching the Earth - see link in video description of the Repackaged Synthetic Nitrogen video) really helped me to appreciate the role of synthetic nitrogen in all our lives. www.amazon.com/Enriching-Earth-Fritz-Transformation-Production/dp/0262693135 Microbes are critical for nutrient cycling, and transformations in the soil. Some of them can also amazingly convert gaseous nitrogen in the air into forms that plants can use. This happens via symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria in plant roots of some legumes. But as is pointed out in the book noted above, there is not adequate land to biologically fix all the nitrogen needs to feed the world. Here's a link to a radio program on nitrogen that you might find interesting. radiolab.org/podcast/180132-how-do-you-solve-problem-fritz-haber

You're welcome. Thanks for the nice comment. ขอบคุณสําหรับความคิดเห็นของคุณ ผมดีใจที่คุณชอบมัน ผมทํางานในประเทศไทยหลายปีทีแล้ว

Thanks. Glad you like it.

Thanks for the comment. The challenge is that nitrogen fixation by legumes, and recycled N in animal manures can not supply all the nitrogen needs for food production. They are important parts of the solution but we also need synthetically produced nitrogen, and as my video described, even organic farms us synthetic nitrogen (just after it has been 'repackaged'). Below is a good paper that discusses that global nitrogen flows and address this. The same author also provides more details in his book titled Enriching the Earth. Smil V. 1999. Nitrogen in crop production: An account of global flows. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 13:647-662. doi: 10.1029/1999gb900015. Here's a link to this paper agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1029/1999GB900015?download=true

You're welcome. Thanks for the nice comment.

You're welcome. Thanks for sharing this. I'm glad to hear the videos are helping. take care

Gracias

De nada. Gracias por suscribirte a mi canal.

You're welcome Steve. Hope it helps. Take care.

Thanks. Sounds good.

It's made from materials that you can often get for free or for very little cost.

Sounds good wantok. Hope it works well for you.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Hi Lee, Thanks for the excellent comment/question. The soon-to-be published paper on this has more details in stand density, etc. But essentially, the method was robust (i.e., worked well) across a huge range of densities because of the amazing ability of cereals to adjust their tillering based on stand density. The densities for rye in the regression curve ranged from about 200 to 900 plants per m2, and for triticale they ranged from about 100 to 300 plants per m2. I admit that I was surprised with how well the method worked across a range of densities, row spacings (6-8 inches) and even planting methods (drilled and broadcast). In addition, the data came from irrigation field, rainfed field, organic and conventional field, etc. and a range of soil types and planting dates. As you can see there is some variability in the scatter of the data, but an r2 of 0.87 to 0.88 still makes me smile : ) By the way below is a link to a paper from my long-term research where we tracked the effect of plant density on biomass production over 8 years. Soon after planting, biomass is higher with higher densities but the effect quickly goes away once the cereals adjust their tillering. -Brennan E.B., N.S. Boyd. 2012. Winter cover crop seeding rate and variety affects during eight years of organic vegetables: I. Cover crop biomass production. Agronomy Journal 104:684-698. www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/21904/BrennanPeerRevPdfs/Agron%20J%20104p684.pdf Here’s another 2 yr study with similar results. -Boyd N.S., E.B. Brennan, R.F. Smith, R. Yokota. 2009. Effect of seeding rate and planting arrangement on rye cover crop and weed growth. Agronomy Journal 101:47-51. www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/21904/BrennanPeerRevPdfs/Agron%20J%20101p47.pdf Hope this helps, Take care, Eric

@@EricBrennanOrganic That's impressive. Thank you!

You're welcome Lee. thanks.

Thanks Luke. Good question. The incentive is that the nitrogen scavenging credit basically gives the farmer more nitrogen to work with in their production. There is not a payout for the credit. But farms will be restricted in how much nitrogen discharge they are allowed to have. N discharge is essentially the difference between what's applied (as fertilizer, irrigation water, etc) and what's removed in harvested product. The allowable discharge is phased is gradually over time and goes down. So if the discharge allowed is 300 lb per acre but the farm has a discharge of 400 lb per acre, a cover crop N scavenging credit of 110 will reduce the discharge from 400 lb to 290 lb (400-110= 290) and thus will get the farm below the required limit. Here's a link to a good blog by my colleagues with more details on some of this. -Smith R.F., M.D. Cahn. 2021. Ag Order 4.0 Finalized: Implications for Nitrogen Management of Vegetables on the Central Coast. ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=46578

Thanks Jim. It's been an interesting and rewarding research project to work on. And it's also been lots of fun figuring out ways to describe it visually and communicate it with video.

Hi Ken, excellent question and observation. This pattern where the variability of the data is not uniform across the data range is referred to as heteroskedasticity. If you want more details on this here's a link that describes en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homoscedasticity_and_heteroscedasticity . In the case of the cover crop data, the data scatters becomes more variable as the shoot length and biomass increases. This means that there is more uncertainty in estimating biomass above about 100 cm for rye and above about 80 cm for triticale. Fortunately, this is not the case up to the 4500 lb/acre requirement, so it does not concern me. I'm not sure about the exact cause of the increased variability above these values, but it likely reflects the variability across the range of planting sites planting dates, and growth conditions (i.e., moisture stress, etc.) of the cover crops. It also likely has something to do with how the cover crops gradually over time shift their biomass allocation from vegetative tissue (leaves, stems) to reproductive tissue (developing seed in the heads). Perhaps what this is telling us is that the regression curves provide a good way to estimate vegetative biomass (leaves and shoots), but that once seed set begins things are different. Hope this helps, and thanks for asking. take care, Eric

Sounds good. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks