I can’t speak for everyone, but when I say building soil it doesn’t literally mean building a layer of soil. It means alot of what you said, releasing nutrients, promoting all the small organism and worms that break down soil, promoting better growing conditions, making it so you can get seeds in the ground on your next planting because your ground is hard as cement!! I think you’re looking into this a little deeper than your average Gardner or food plotter… as a food plotter our goals aren’t the same as a farmer, we do prefer higher yields, but it’s not our lively hood.. Just my .02, I did enjoy your video and will give you a follow!
Thanks! It is certainly a nuanced topic. The term is also used often in farming. Sudan for example is sold as a “soil builder”. Although it’s more of a nutrient scavenger and release agent than say - a soil builder. My main goal of the video is to highlight that regardless of tactics - unless the plan thereafter is following strong principles, we will simply set back the previous gains. Example is a cover crop then heavy tilling it in - this sets back the gains tremendously. So we will not achieve much more than a nutrient sequestration and then release of nutrients. Which is still great but we are not increasing OM, carbon sequestration, microbial systems (at a sustainable level), etc. Hope this helps and I really appreciate the comment and the follow. It means a lot!! Thank you Brian!
I’ve planted Sudan grass in a greenhouse with a compost tea application and saw a major transformation in one season. We also had a trench through the middle that diverted rain water inside. It’s a different context than you’re talking about, but my take away was if you can manage water, microbiology, and plant plants with good root systems…a lot can change pretty quick. Ever tried cutting keyholes on contour? Or something like that?
I agree! I’ve seen huge impacts in my garden - quickly. As so long as subsequent planning and planting follows a path that won’t disrupt our linear trajectory. If we make great impact (observationally) to then reset with over browse, deep tillage, etc. we will just see our gains reversed. So do I believe a cover is helpful - no matter, yes. Just not in the full sense of “soil building” without a deeper plan. As always - I like to say “any step towards soil conservation is a step in the correct direction”. Thanks for watching and comment.
I'm loving your videos. So what do you think, if someone has no resources, can they just let weeds grow and steamroll them? They will be diverse by default.
Thank you for the comment. I do think you can use a way to naturally create succession that will help in carbon sequestration. However, I think if it’s high weeds- specifically broadleaves - I’d seed a heavy rate of a cover crop and mow. Repeat.
I can’t speak for everyone, but when I say building soil it doesn’t literally mean building a layer of soil. It means alot of what you said, releasing nutrients, promoting all the small organism and worms that break down soil, promoting better growing conditions, making it so you can get seeds in the ground on your next planting because your ground is hard as cement!!
I think you’re looking into this a little deeper than your average Gardner or food plotter… as a food plotter our goals aren’t the same as a farmer, we do prefer higher yields, but it’s not our lively hood..
Just my .02, I did enjoy your video and will give you a follow!
Thanks! It is certainly a nuanced topic. The term is also used often in farming. Sudan for example is sold as a “soil builder”. Although it’s more of a nutrient scavenger and release agent than say - a soil builder.
My main goal of the video is to highlight that regardless of tactics - unless the plan thereafter is following strong principles, we will simply set back the previous gains.
Example is a cover crop then heavy tilling it in - this sets back the gains tremendously. So we will not achieve much more than a nutrient sequestration and then release of nutrients. Which is still great but we are not increasing OM, carbon sequestration, microbial systems (at a sustainable level), etc.
Hope this helps and I really appreciate the comment and the follow. It means a lot!! Thank you Brian!
Great summary!
Thanks so much for watching and comment!!
I’ve planted Sudan grass in a greenhouse with a compost tea application and saw a major transformation in one season. We also had a trench through the middle that diverted rain water inside.
It’s a different context than you’re talking about, but my take away was if you can manage water, microbiology, and plant plants with good root systems…a lot can change pretty quick.
Ever tried cutting keyholes on contour? Or something like that?
I agree! I’ve seen huge impacts in my garden - quickly. As so long as subsequent planning and planting follows a path that won’t disrupt our linear trajectory. If we make great impact (observationally) to then reset with over browse, deep tillage, etc. we will just see our gains reversed. So do I believe a cover is helpful - no matter, yes. Just not in the full sense of “soil building” without a deeper plan.
As always - I like to say “any step towards soil conservation is a step in the correct direction”. Thanks for watching and comment.
@@VitalizeSeed for sure, its no good unless theres sound management going forward. Thanks for sharing!
Agree completely.
Thanks for comment and watching!! Have a wonderful day!
I'm loving your videos. So what do you think, if someone has no resources, can they just let weeds grow and steamroll them? They will be diverse by default.
Thank you for the comment. I do think you can use a way to naturally create succession that will help in carbon sequestration. However, I think if it’s high weeds- specifically broadleaves - I’d seed a heavy rate of a cover crop and mow. Repeat.