The Science of Soil Health: Going Deeper

Want access to water, nutrients? Look deeper, expert tells farmers
The scientist who wrote the book on soils wants farmers to look deeper. Literally. Dr. Ray Weil, author of the 15th edition of The Nature and Property of Soils, wants farmers to consider the soil’s nutrient and water-holding capacity below the top 8-10 inches of soil. Unfortunately, decades of heavy machine traffic on the soil’s surface, combined with tillage, have created nearly impenetrable layers of dense soil called “plow-pans,” which make it difficult (if not impossible) for most crops to reach what Weil describes as a tank of moisture and nutrients below the topsoil. To access those nutrients and moisture, farmers should consider using cover crops to tap into that reservoir with plow-pan-busting roots, he says. Go underground with Dr. Weil in this Science of Soil Health video to learn more (3:48). It’s science you can really dig.

[@ulisesordonez2937]

I learned a lots with these book of Weil and Brady... am proud to known and still continuous learning about this lovely soil science....

[@Adeolasabi]

Soil is amazing

[@sanjaydeshmukh819]

very nice and useful

[@IntegratedPestManagement]

Excellent!

[@chelseamoniquemorrisprinci8856]

Thank you

[@audioalt]

Extremely educational video fantastic. At the end of the video the print is extremely hard to read because it Blends into the background. Nice video

[@javierperea8954]

Is that pit OSHA compliant? J/k Just being a jerk. Thank you for the video.

[@thenewyorkredneck4735]

wow. that was genius

[@alpineflauge909]

have that book

[@lucusinfabula]

Daikon type radish covercrop can break through compacted layers.

[@jamestoday2239]

Great but, why is the focus always on Radish's when it comes to deep penetrating tap roots? I know that they're fast growing and tolerate cool conditions but i can think of other plants; Burdock for one, or Parsnip, and there's Chicory....?

[@saveoursoils]

James, thanks for commenting - you are correct. I focused on radish simply because it is the species I have worked with the most and it is one of the best performers for biodrilling with seed readily available..and does not tend to become a weed. Other Brassicas like rapseed perform almost as well in a similar niche. I have no data on parnsip biodrilling rates, but I am impressed with its root growth in my garden.

[@jeanlaikan8400]

What about the layer of soil that is below the top soil. If I add a lot of compost & peat moss or coconut coir to it, can it replace top soil?

[@kotukuwhakapiko467]

add some chocolate syrup, be delish

[@komitaskomitaskomitas]

Cum on dirt ..m mm nasty

[@bhagathshivaram4703]

#SaveSoil

[@khankaka7773]

Good wark

[@onnietalone3181]

I wish I could see natural springs, seems we got rid of them? I wounder if some even know what they look like, I bet you they would show up in spring and disaapere, I think I did see one close to lake it made a creek, lol

[@SlainteFromFlorida]

Dr. Weil is a national treasure but the USDA is a willing accomplice in the murder of America's soils. This video, for me, is an opportunity to hear the message despite the messenger.

[@lanceg3208]

please tell more

[@ryelor123]

No offense but that sounds kind of like what the Chinese were talking about during the Great Leap Forward. The difference being that they were claiming that you had to dig down many feet to get the good soil with the better nutrients, not anything related to water. .

[@billclintonsaragih]

Thank you I found this Praise the Lord Jesus

[@oldcountryman2795]

If you tried to dig that hole on my property all but the top 10 to 12 inches would be rock.

[@miltkarr5109]

Rock people like watching soil videos for some reason.

[@lanceg3208]

Wow

[@thierryfortier605]

DAIKON POWAAAAA!

[@jeffjefferson3364]

Yea that's great if your soil is 6ft deep and you are in dry areas?? Drought is not an issue where I'm at and even our best soils aren't 6ft deep. I need to till so the top 2 inches are broken up! Yes the top 2 inches that are just a smear from all the moisture. Ploughing dries my soil. If you don't want to create a pan have a crop rotation

[@agustusfarnworth3379]

What did you do for that land

[@kylewhanger175]

Y’all just shit all over every OSHA excavation manual!

[@michaelqdlap]

As far as I know, It's not really safe to step into an unsupported pit this deep

[@ryelor123]

Its safe.

[@scottdougherty4251]

@@ryelor123 no its not

[@alivelialiveliali]

Yes it is.

[@khankaka7773]

Good wark