In Search of Soil with Diego Footer

Seven of the twelve soil types on the USDA texture triangle have "loam" in their name, which is why almost everyone thinks they have it. Here's how to read the chart that shows up in every soil article, why it takes 40% clay to call a soil clay but 85% sand to call it sand, and whether loam really is the ideal soil. This is In Search of Soil, where we dig past the myths and get to the science, one claim at a time.
0:00 Why can't anybody see silt?2:50 Sand, silt, clay and the soil triangle3:40 The claim: loam is the ideal soil4:50 Why 40% clay runs the whole soil8:05 Where silt comes from10:05 Silt: the sponge you can wring out11:45 Silt's weakness: it washes away13:10 Verdict: is loam the ideal soil?14:05 Pop quiz: loam vs silt loam15:35 What to do with your soil

Seven of the twelve soil types on the USDA texture triangle have "loam" in their name, which is why almost everyone thinks they have it. Here's how to read the chart that shows up in every soil article, why it takes 40% clay to call a soil clay but 85% sand to call it sand, and whether loam really is the ideal soil. This is In Search of Soil, where we dig past the myths and get to the science, one claim at a time.2:00 Sand, silt and clay: the basics3:40 12 soil types, 7 called loam5:40 The chart isn't balanced7:10 Why clay gets so much of the map8:35 Verdict: is loam the ideal soil?9:50 What the chart can't tell you10:40 "Loam" has no legal definition11:25 The takeaway

A few years ago I told you to fix clay soil by adding sand, then pulled the video down. Here’s why my clay ball demo fooled me, what diluting clay with sand would really take, and the one number in your soil that no amount of sand can change, which is why my bed was never going to become loam. I score all seven claims from my old video and finish with what I’d do for heavy clay instead. This is In Search of Soil, where we dig past the garden myths and get to the science.

A few years ago I told you to fix clay soil by adding sand. It was terrible advice. Today I correct the record. Here's the 10-second arithmetic that shows I used about one-eighth of what it would take, and why the same math applies to every amendment you buy. This is In Search of Soil, where we dig past the garden myths and get to the science, one claim at a time.

Exploring the Fascinating World of Fungi with Dr. Elizabeth Koziol: From Dumb Luck to Mycorrhizal Wisdom

Elizabeth is a mycologist whose accidental journey into the world of fungi turned into a lifelong passion. She shares her experiences from her career working with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, debunking common misconceptions and explaining the intricate relationships between fungi and plants. Learn about the surprising mechanisms of fungal-plant communication, the role of fungi in agriculture, and the potential of microbial inoculants like MycoBloom. Whether you're a gardener or a researcher, this talk offers valuable insights into the unseen world beneath our feet.

Dr. Kozoil's research: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=H8P1tgkAAAAJ

Dr. Kozoil's company MycoBloom: https://www.mycobloom.com/