The Magic of Soil

In response to a UN Food and Agriculture Organization announcement, “Only 60 Years of Farming Left If Soil Degradation Continues” (Scientific American, Dec. 5, 2014), University of British Columbia Emeritus Professor of Physics and Astronomer, Phil Gregory, has spent the past two years investigating the subject to see what, if anything, can be done.
The good news is that during the last 20 to 30 years there has been an amazing revolution in our understanding of soil biology and nature’s complexity. This offers tremendous potential to deal with food security and climate change issues in a way where nature will do most of the work. In this 40 minute video, Gregory summarizes some of the new insights that have emerged from the hidden universe of soils.
The really big challenge is to re-educate ourselves in the short time available. The French government recognizes this and at the Paris Climate meeting (COP 21) they proposed an agricultural initiative, known as "4 per 1000“, to increase soil carbon by 0.4% per year. As of Nov 2016, thirty three countries have agreed to participate.
For supplementary video and reading material see:
www.phas.ubc.ca/~gregory/paper...

[@8971felix]

I have a small 5 square meter area in my backyard in bkk, it was full of pure sand when I moved in the house. 9 months ago i started to put a 3 inches layer of compost and dead leaves on top of it then I planted seeds and i added worms in the soil. Today it full of life, i grow sweet potatoes, Chaya, lemon grass, basilic, minth, peanuts. It grows like crazy, the soil is full of life, i also see mushrooms, a large variety of insects. I learnt that in the proper conditions it doesn't take long to create a good soil, i also noticed that my plants grow much better in this kind of soil than in container.

[@Johnny-nr4zu]

That’s awesome to hear..congratulations!!! I will have to do the same here. Mostly sand here as well. I will do what you did to your soil. 🙏🏼

[@dilippatidar6907]

It is good to know that many people are working hard to protect our nature. I also started organic farming practices on my farm for last couple of years . Good luck to your team and everyone who is trying to regenerate soil and natrue . Many many thanks from a small farmer of India 🙏♻🍃🌿🌷🍀🌻🌺🌹🍁🙏

[@yuvanganeshsivaraman]

@dilip patidar super bro continue doing organic farming

[@WadcaWymiaru]

This is what Indians really need: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIakdpRqhLd0obs - terra preta done by ancient *South America Indians* ...

[@naziakhan5841]

@@WadcaWymiaru thank you this helped in my school project.

[@cqammaz53]

I feel the same way you do about our planet health and the lack of farmers not taking care of mother nature. I'm a semi-retired Real Estate agent and a 1st-year gardener and boy do I have a lot of questions about the proper care of my plants and fruit trees. especially since I want to do everything organically. I guess the framers are in the same boat as I am. Maybe that's why that can't change their way of production. I'm just doing it for me and my family. I guess the question is how without breaking the bank With all the experts and not so experts wanting us to pay out of our pockets and not knowing who is real and which method is right for your particular needs or situation. My needs are simple I'm just a back yard gardener but these framing this is their lifestyle and if they choose the wrong method they can lose everything they build up but I agree with you something has to happen before it is too late.

[@williamwallace1745]

Start by composting, a mower that bags the clippings and a place in the yard to pile them and turn them is a great way to start

[@BenaiahMoses]

I am the forth generation on a 10,000 acre dryland farm. It's practically a desert. I see many ways in each of our various properties to reverse a 120 years of farming.

[@bte_permaculture]

Permaculture would help 🙏♻️

[@anna-lenameijer9942]

Try Groasis to plant trees on desert land. It is used in Dubai and rocky places in Spain with very good results. It is even more water frugal than drip irrigation (to my surprise), as it uses the morning dew that it collects too. And it helps the small plants to grow better and faster. Look for info on KZbin. Best of luck!

[@eddieleong6490]

Fantastic, one of the best videos. I am heading to Rwanda where I will be encouraging young Rwandans to do regenerative agriculture, organic, pesticides free if possible, no tilling, etc. Nature is our Best Friend.

[@WadcaWymiaru]

Lies in that video...

[@b_uppy]

Hopefully you implemented rainwater harvesting strategies as well. "Planting the rain" aids in carbon sequestration as well. It prevents carbon-rich topsoil from being washed away to the ocean as well as boosts water's absorption into soil. Demilunes, swales, bioswales, raingardens, check dams, bunds, etc made from onsite materials increase sustainability of systems...

[@b_uppy]

​​@@WadcaWymiaru Really? Where? What comments do you have conflict with?

[@wendyscott8425]

👏 Let's hope more and more people see this excellent presentation. I have been so discouraged about how the environmental protections put in place by previous administrations have been the subject of many attempts to destroy them by this one in the US. I guess these people must be from some other planet because they sure don't know how to take care of ours. But with this wonderful practice of regenerative farming, which apparently is really taking off around the world, I have hope. It doesn't involve government, it's safe, productive, produces healthy food, and much to the relief of the farmers who engage in its practices, it makes money for them! What else do they need?

[@peterout8729]

By following regenerative agriculture will make a massive change that is always missed. Eating local food grown under those conditions will mean a very healthy populace, saving money on healthcare.

[@kf2572]

More C02 in the air is better for plants.

[@harveyacosta2352]

"I do not, in my lifetime, or that of my children foresee a world where there are no eroded soils, stripped forests, famine, or poverty, but I do see a way in which we can spend our lives towards earth repair. If and when the whole world is secure, we have won the right to explore space, and the oceans. Until we have demonstrated that we can establish a productive and secure earth society, we do not belong anywhere else, nor (I suspect) would we be welcome elsewhere." Bill Mollison, Father of Permaculture

[@fabiooliva7296]

Madre tierra.

[@lanaroderick7389]

Great information. Especially the Soil Solutions to Climate Problems and the desertification. Very clear and understandable information.

[@ozanince]

Everyone on the planet must be aware of this knowledge! Thank you so much👏

[@Namchar2]

Just skip ahead to 6:00 minute mark. I can’t believe the annoying preamble. It almost made me not watch this. But it’s actually really good!

[@tadessemoges6009]

i live in Ethiopia, it is very interesting video for Ethiopian agriculturalists . i will follow and expect more thank you.

[@joshme8144]

Bruz its a science you should look up the research in soil microbiology in the Netherlands those Europeans got it down pat! Its how they came up with the famous "no till living soil" hope you find it interesting its gunna change the world specially poorer country's

[@bte_permaculture]

Absolutely wonderful information! Thank you 😊

[@WadcaWymiaru]

You thank for "bunch of bullcrap"?

[@bte_permaculture]

@@WadcaWymiaru I thank mother nature everyday when I wake up for being alive. Being thankful can change your life, try it. ❤️🙏👍

[@asma.nooruddin]

Thank you. If we let the indigenous people live normally, we would not have damaged our planet so much.

[@nerdwisdomyo9563]

Debatable, especially when you consider just HOW MANY different living styles various indigenous peoples have had, sure there have been many groups of indigenous peoples all over the world that took better care of the environment then colonizers but that is far from all, a lot of it was from simply having a smaller population, and they didn’t know about microbes or botany An example of indigenous people ruining the environment can come from wasteful buffalo hunts or the extreme sprawls form the inca, they basically just destroyed the rainforest Brazilian style, but that was an ancient civilization 🤔 anyway it depends

[@BeinganaJeoffrey-re3uw]

I completely agree that soil is life therefore understanding how to preserve is paramount for human existence. Best educating factual information on soils

[@b_uppy]

The real issue is restoring soil, rather than CO² in the air. We correct for soil, a lot of the issues go away. We can add rainwater harvesting with onsite materials to *key* areas to add more soil restoration potential. Shallower portions of hillsides, as well as flatlands can use this to slow, spread and sink water. This will raise watertables, reduce the effects of flooding, heatwaves, and droughts too. Contrary to some opinion, rainwater harvesting also increases water supply to those downhill. This is much of soil is currently impervious/too compacted to receive water. Also these small, frequent, tree-shaded catchments protect water from direct evaporation, as well stopping it from directly running off. It decreases the sudden rush of stormwater and gently releases it longer through the year. As well as planting trees to steeper portions, and protect water supply; many of these catchments can be used to directly accommodate trees as well, when we select for biome appropriateness. These catchments also reduce leaves and other organic detritus reaching streams and rivers where they would decompose and contribute to the release of methane and other greenhouse gases. Instead the leaves stay put and protect the soils from further evaporation. In valleys we can use something called restoration ag that uses the biome as a template to grow food producing trees, shrubs, and vines alternating with grasses/perennials/annuals. We use varieties that like the location and produce well, replace the ones that balk at growing there. Livestock can be used to manage the weeds, culls, pests, fertility, crop residues, etc while avoiding overgrazing. This method produces food of higher nutrition, improves soil, healthier livestock, etc.

[@shyadav08]

Amazing! I learned so much in this short time!

[@dinosaur0073]

This is great video with simple explanation & great future hope..Thank you..

[@coolncrazy8199]

Utmost respect to this video creators..much appreciated 🙏🙏🙏

[@Chris-op7yt]

heh, heh, i like the idea of "do not disturb..the soil" signs

[@godlovesuila6699]

This is super amazing. As I watched this video, I paused it and took notes. Pure knowledge from a legend. Thank you very much Prof. Philip

[@jinaoneill328]

please adjust the volume when recording we can always turn it down but are limited on how loud it can go

[@samundrasingh7842]

Very informative. An eye opener. Thanks.

[@TheVigilantStewards]

Fantastic lecture!

[@ananddeo484]

Absolutely necessary action❤

[@foggymedia]

Beautiful!

[@Girlsarejustbetter]

AMAZING. Thank you!

[@user-wv5fq8di2m]

Excellent video - Thanks!

[@swrtsolutionsinc.1092]

Crop plants maintain a "rhizosphere", or a concentrated area of microbial activity close to the root. The rhizosphere is the most active part of the soil ecosystem because it is where the most readily available food is, and where peak nutrient and water cycling occurs. Microbial food is exuded by crop roots to attract and feed microbes that in turn provide nutrients (and other compounds) to the plant at the root-soil interface where the plants can take them up. Since living roots provide the easiest source of food for soil microbes, growing long lived roots that feed the foundation species of the soil food web as much as possible during the growing season should be a goal of farmers seeking a productive and profitable crop. Roots associated with SWRT membranes have been shown to last all season long, contributing greatly to the improvement of soil quality because they have the nutrients and moisture they need.

[@Neonblast24]

You are great! Your work is fantastic! More people must see this. Thak you

[@mattolsson8816]

Philip Gregory, it would be helpful if you could share those links in the video in the description. Thanks for a great video.

[@jonnyunited]

Agreed! Please add links!

[@harisonboy44]

Harison boy

[@domzig138]

Fantastic video

[@leeoleary3321]

Very inspiring video thanks

[@sarojachhettri4999]

nice to come across this video....

[@sunitabhandari9922]

Great information 👍

[@coleman318]

Thank you!!! You made it informative and easily digestable. I shared with my grandma since I had been trying to get her to feed the soil.

[@noelagritv]

Amazing knowledge thank you

[@carralumsden8853]

Brilliant video. Within the right community and viable land this is doable. I have some keen knowledge of agriculture that requires putting back into practice on a much wider scale. A fusion farmstead/cafe boutique of food from my loved locations. Love it! Thanks for sharing. Peace and Blissings

[@MayurPanghaal]

thx for this !!

[@jamesmichaelcabrera9613]

Everyone needs to see this video

[@kriegfaust]

Great video

[@jimkingsland1645]

Absolutely the best treatise on soil and carbon management I have experienced. I learned so much and now understand much better soil biology and the goodness of composting. Thank you!

[@BuchawalsAdventure]

Nice video

[@chetankjs]

Thank u

[@malalachernobyl5594]

Humans gone mad in his endeavors for progress

[@rosemacaskie]

I live in Spain ane here it is not overgrazing that is the problem, it is what here and probably in the rest of the mediteranean is called cleaness, it is practiced for fear of fires and means getting rid of nearly all vegetation. So they over graze each area and then go back over the land once a week to make sure that the grass that might come back up does not. I have also thought that one reason for this behaviour is that the shepherds are usually not the owners of the land, a lot of land is used for hunting and the shepherds are allowed on the land to "clean it" as clearign and over grazing are called, so that hunters can get through the undergrowth and also so that there is less fire risk. I imagine that if the shepherds were the owners of the land, they would be more interersted in growing pasture and so in walking less. The English in Scotland turned the mountains into acid moor land that was good for hunting in but not good for the scots in the villages. It maybe that land owners here have behaved like the English did in Scotland tha tland owwners were rich towns men who were not really interested in production, just in their sport. Such places should be capable of growing more, so we could feed more people in this world . Of course, now animals are intensively farmed and the land is left to deer. I have seen an increase in deer and decrease in producrtive fields in England as well as in Spain.

[@virginiarichter217]

Very interesting. I hadn't heard of 'cleaning' to prevent fires. How can regenerative agriculture, especially holistic management of herbivores, help? If the grass is high and dense, there is water in the soil. Wouldn't that be a hindrance? Where in Spain are you? I'd like to move there and be part of regen. ag.

[@sweetvuvuzela4634]

Compost the solution for everything it locks rain it feeds plants it can also be used to bed animals and benefit their health in the process.

[@wendyscott8425]

Cover crops work well, too.

[@sweetvuvuzela4634]

Wendy Scott yes indeed

[@rosemacaskie]

One of the results of over grazing is a lack of nitrogen in the soil as animals don't stay on the land so long as there is little vegetation to feed on and so dont manure it. ALso there is less nitrogen as there is little vegetation, so that the lack of vegetation and so the break up of vegetation dying and breaking down without passing through the digestive tract of an animal, also means a lack of nitrogen in the soil. This means that some of what looks like desertification is in fact unfertile soil. Soil which would be covered in vegetation in the wet season, if there was enough nitrogen in the soil for a plant to grow there. A bit of nitrogen can get seeds in the soil growing where before they would have remained dormant. I have seen mallows grow in an area that was fertilised by me where before it did not grow, although we had not put seed into that bit of land.

[@drewblack749]

Look up Allan Savory or Jim Elizondo on u tube. Both explain that you can graze them in paddocks with supplementation and thus begin the regrowth process. It has never ever failed. Amazing!

[@lokeshmaakireddy8125]

Sir i think 4 years completed from ur video. Hence release the improvements video. Thnk You

[@tonistefan8649]

But how do i cultivate a terrain full of wheeds , let's say with wheat or corn? Just spray the seeds over the terrain covered with weeds?

[@ppuripp]

This is a great video. But the part about soil amendment, to me, feels a bit weak. Covering the soil with compost is not only arduous but 2D - We want to work in 3D when it comes to the soil, i.e. add the depth to the horizon, or get down deep into them. There are lots more methods out there, open to research. I am working for JADAM and natural farming methods. You might wanna look up Jadam microbe solution or IMO methods. Or you can watch my videos on them.

[@ericcherry8305]

You are right but your definition of farmer is wrong.... Farmer means BANK. Ran by banks..not people. love yourself and you'll find love for everything including plants and animals. Treat it like your not going to eat it... stop caring for the soil and the plants like farmers do and all will go back to nature. Im a plant caregiver... i try to give it good water and grow it in natural ground. That is good food. Learn to stop touching stuff... thanks

[@yvettecamba5216]

We just need to look at nature to understand..no one tills the Amazon and yet there is so much going on there. We think we know better when in actu fact we need to mimic what is already working...

[@infiniteadam7352]

Farmers have been screwed by big Ag. Tricked even.

[@howardlitson9796]

Peat fuel from soil. Soil dirt can turn into black charcoal iron ore

[@Chris-op7yt]

now if all the suburban garden enthusiasts had the tools at hand for quick/easy soil tests and see soil carbon build, we wouldnt be part of the problem, tilling in unnecessary large anounts of composts, magic potions and inappropriate fertilizers.

[@emofreedotca]

People just do not know. Until two years ago, I was doing everything"wrong" too. When I found the research in a book called, "The Soil Will Save Us", and "Cows Save The Planet, my world changed.

[@jennychiltoon7130]

What is the limit to how much carbon can be put into topsoil ?

[@working_example]

Will Brinton pointed out that live soil produces 100lb to 400lb of CO2/acre/day. This is about enough to feed the plants on the land. The point is plants take majority of its CO2 needs from the soil not from the sky. Healthy soil however is a great water buffer which lowers the hydro dynamic extreme of global warming.

[@92mrjensen]

Hi Steven. I think you got it mixed up; plants take their CO2 from the air, through the stomatal openings on the underside of their leaves. Hardly any carbon (in other forms than CO2) are removed from the soil. Carbon binds the minerals and nutrients of the soil together, and microbes make them available to the plants. This is called mineralization. And it is a necessary step for natural nutrient cycling in the farmland soils. I totally agree on water retention; healthy soils, with good structure and high carbon content, holds on to water. This is crucial for success in future farming, as rainfall is becoming more extreme. Kind regards Andreas, biologist

[@mostismail9638]

YOU can say I am a Elaine Ingham believer , for more than 7 years I have been folowing her work and trying so hard to apply it , but am sorry to say it didn't help me much . but I still believe In Dr Ingham , because to me she the only one with a whole complete theory , sure to me it's a theory you see I don't see what she sees , so what do I tell my sellf now ? I say may be there is something wrong with my soil , a kind of soil Ingahm doesn't know much about , or there is something wrong with me I miss something along the way that I don't know , or Dr Ingham don't tell all that she knows Any body around here with something to tell ?

[@gustavohopkins242]

Could be plenty of things. Ph level, composition of your soil, perhaps you have no bacteria. Hard to tell without seeing what you are doing. Keep checking out permaculture videos to compare yourself to

[@raurkegoose5233]

More probable is that you are doing it wrong. Wherever it is done properly, it works, and works well.

[@johnfitbyfaithnet]

Insects and worms till the soil

[@nerdwisdomyo9563]

I ain’t never seen a worn till a soil. Do you mean they munchie munch a bunch?

[@billiebruv]

Ray Archuleta, brought to you by The Dust Brothers

[@infiniteadam7352]

I think the biggest problem with getting farmers to go no till will be weeds.

[@Howtofarmandgarden]

Genesis Biochar organic soil conditioner could be part of the solution. It is mostly carbon and can last for a thousand years.

[@rosemacaskie]

What about childrens books stories about bad farmers? That would spread the story of what we are doing to mothers and so to everyone.

[@wildswan221]

Enjoyed reading your ... dinner invitation paper. One note, it is not true that antibiotics have performed anything amazing in infection reduction. MRSA, hospital mutated and acquired infections, et al, have outpaced traditional infections. Anyhow, the healthy soil work is excellent.

[@gtavtheavengergunnerlegend3340]

Hemp could save earth

[@suzyfarms]

Regenerative agriculture is the only way forward to restore our soils health and care for the plant, people and planet. Have some good videos on this too. have a look.

[@rosemacaskie]

Carbon cannot leave the soil in deserts because in such places there is no carbon, almost ,in the soil.

[@johnfitbyfaithnet]

Armadillos and hogs till the soil

[@lovefashion8941]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😍😍😍

[@rosemacaskie]

you are not atalking about how to grow grain crops in a better way. What about perenial wheet crops, when wil perrenial wheat become a reality?

[@ronnalscammahorn8002]

Less astronomy more agronomy , Focus please .

[@cherylpullen4765]

We get rid of Our Playing God complex and the UN Advice and Look to Our Lord for what he has Done for man... We are the ones Responsible for this Mess here on Earth buy Growing Our GREED and Get Real with the balance between 1) What we Need vs 2) What we Want = What God Gave us in the first place and be excited for what That WAS.

[@b_uppy]

God did a great system. We do better to imitate it instead of arrogantly fighting it. Love holistic farming and ranching methods such as restoration ag where food-producing, polycropped trees, vines and shrubs are planted between rows of perennials, grasses, and annuals. It's managed by livestock and produces food that is nutritionally superior compared to conventional agricultural methods. It builds soil, reduces farming costs, adds resiliency, produces more biomass, reduces other greenhouse gases, etc.

[@zephaniahmarion8578]

[@anna-lenameijer9942]

We can start taking care of the 40 % of all food produced that are thrown away every year. Canada alone throw away $CAD 31 billions of food every year. It took me 3 years to manage cero food waste. It can be done. Best regards, from a UBC alumni.

[@WadcaWymiaru]

It is not about the food: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIakdpRqhLd0obs - terra preta fertilizers cost billions, we can ELIMINATE them by using ancient trick!

[@cqammaz53]

I don't have permission to assess your website www.phas.ubc.ca/~gregory/paper...

[@manuelbettencourt4213]

If12 million acres a year are lost then shouldn’t someone investigate where they went and return them?

[@samiamm5764]

Manuel Bettencourt they blow into the sea

[@johnspizziri1919]

deep plowing releases 50# of carbon into the atmosphere every square meter? That is 196k pounds of carbon per acre, if my math is right - that's 98 TONS OF CARBON. There is something wrong with this model. That means one tillage trip will turn organic soil totally into mineral soil. WRONG.

[@regenAg]

John, you appear to have made a significant error in your calculation. Plowed to a depth of 28 cm (11"), 162 grams of CO2 is released from each square meter in the 24 hours following the plowing. Now one acre is 4047 sq. meters which means 162 x 4047 = 655,614 grams or 656 kg of CO2 released from one acre which translates to 0.657 tonnes per acre or 0.723 U.S. tons of CO2/acre. To convert tons of CO2 to tons of carbon divide by 3.67 which yields finally 0.197 tons of carbon/ acre lost from the soil in the 24 hrs following plowing compared to only 0.013 tons of carbon/acre for the unplowed soil. When the CO2 release was measured over 21 day interval, the amount released from plowing was still 10 times larger than what was released from the unplowed soil. The amount of carbon released from the unplowed soil in one day was 0.013 tons of carbon/acre, so in 21 days that corresponds to 0.013 x 21 = 0.273 tons. Finally multiply that by 10 for the carbon released from the plowed portion gives 2.73 ton of carbon/acre in 21 days. Now typical degraded conventional agricultural soil has an organic content of about 1%. This translate to an amount of organic carbon in the top 28 cm of about 16 tons/acre so we are losing a significant amount of carbon each time we plow to a depth of 28 cm, but not losing all of it. In healthy soil the organic carbon can easily reach 4% levels which corresponds to about 55 tons of carbon/acre in the top 28 cm when you allow for the fact that the bulk density is lower in soil with a higher organic content. I hope this helps.

[@steveschmidt4063]

Global warming 😂😂😂

[@johac7637]

Hmmm, looking for intelligence way out there, little wonder, can't find much here on planet earth, especially in the Republican Party south of us.

[@Pasotintojas1]

f ing propaganda

[@leelindsay5618]

I can't get past the kindergarden reading style. I can't stand the Mr. Rogers-like reading voice. The internal video with the female astronomer was just fabulous. Can't keep watching. Just irritating. I really wanted to watch this.

[@ppss.6302]

Blah, blah, blah. Feel good bs. Reality is that all this feel good stuff is impractical or impossible in economic system where the bulk of population is concentrated in big cities and labor must be minimized to stay afloat economically.

[@ericcherry8305]

Please stop with the carbon emission bull... We are entering a part of the universe that is hotter. Its a natural progression as we move through this universe. Stop the LIES and love again. We are born with all knowledge and all love most of all.. Stop teaching lies and go back to love. Thank You

[@Endlesslight787]

Do you have a source for you claim??

[@gustavohopkins242]

Lol first our solar system isn't traveling around in the universe at a rate that would make anything noticeable. But what you are referring to is solar cycles and radiation from bursts of energy across the universe. Both of those can be measured and both of those aren't increasing our temperature right now. Also do you just not believe in carbon emissions? Do you look at black plumes of smoke and go that's not carbon? Where do you think all that carbon goes? Do you even be live carbon is real?

[@wndrfullife]

Love isn't going to fix the over tilling. Do you garden/farm? I do. I've seen what tilling soil does over the years. My Dad did it, and his Dad did too. It turns soil to dusty dirt. The nutrients are depleted. Then you have a block of dirt concrete......that's no bueno. Walk into a forest. There is life teaming with new growth! If you scratch the surface of the forest floor, the soil is dark and beautiful. It's been fertilized by nature. It's dark, full of worms, and feeding more life. I don't understand how this isn't obvious. I agree that the planets have a natural progression, and we can only do what we can do, but this video is accurate. We are not helping the matter.

[@BigWesLawns]

Subscribed 4 minutes into this. Its shared on my twitter. I am throwing those U.N. screenshots on my instagram. I had heard this before but now I have the UN's own words. Worth rhe watch right there if I turnnit off right now, but😂 You had me at ALOE!!🌱🦠🐛🐝🐞