Plants Dig Soil™

White crust on the soil surface can point to salinity, but it does not tell the whole story.

In this episode, I return to my Better Farming Prairies series on tight soils and look at the chemical side of the problem.

Salts in the soil water affect the crop.

Sodium held on soil particles affects soil structure.

Those problems can look similar from the surface, but they need different tests and different fixes.

I cover why EC, SAR, pH and depth of sampling matter and why “alkali,” “salt” and “tight soil” should not be used as if they all mean the same thing.

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In case you’re new here, I’m Scott Gillespie—an Alberta-based writer and independent agronomy consultant. My work focuses on #RealisticRegenAg for organic and conventional farms. I provide practical, science-backed advice shaped by two decades of experience across a range of farming systems, with particular expertise in irrigated production.

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Transcript with links to everything mentioned in the episode:

https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/podcast/beyond-the-white-crust

Article link:

https://www.betterfarming.com/flippingbook/better-farming-prairie/2026/september/46/index.html

Newsletter signup:

https://mailchi.mp/plantsdigsoil/newsletter

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6944029544697802752

YouTube: (Company):

https://www.youtube.com/@scottcgillespie

Podcast:

https://anchor.fm/scottcgillespie

(Look below Spotify for other apps or just search “Plants Dig Soil” in your favourite app.)

Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture

https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/books

Consulting packages:

https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#consulting

Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design:

https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/speaking

Funding service offerings:

https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork

Email:

[email protected]

Call/text/WhatsApp:

403-654-3096

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/

“Tight soil” can be physical or chemical. From the surface, the symptoms often look the same: water pooling, poor growth, shallow roots and areas that never seem to perform.

This episode takes a short detour from my Better Farming Prairies series on chemically tight soils to look at physical compaction. When does steel help? When do roots help? And when are we expecting too much from both?

I cover traffic, headlands, wheel tracks, deep tillage, cover crops, and why diagnosis matters before choosing a fix. Tillage can provide relief when the problem is true physical compaction, but roots need to follow if the benefit is going to last. If the problem is chemical — such as salinity or sodicity — steel alone will not solve it.--------In case you’re new here, I’m Scott Gillespie—an Alberta-based writer and independent agronomy consultant. My work focuses on #RealisticRegenAg for organic and conventional farms. I provide practical, science-backed advice shaped by two decades of experience across a range of farming systems, with particular expertise in irrigated production.--------Transcript with links to everything mentioned in the episode:https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/podcast/steel-roots-break-compactionArticle link:https://issuu.com/lethcounty/docs/rural_living_in_lethbridge_county_spring_summer_2/22Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/plantsdigsoil/newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6944029544697802752 YouTube: (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@scottcgillespie Podcast: https://anchor.fm/scottcgillespie (Look below Spotify for other apps or just search “Plants Dig Soil” in your favourite app.)Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/books Consulting packages: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#consulting Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/speaking Funding service offerings: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork Email: [email protected] Call/text/WhatsApp:403-654-3096LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/

“Tight soil” is a phrase we use a lot, but it isn’t a diagnosis. It’s a symptom.

Water pooling, poor crop growth and areas that never seem to perform can all point to very different problems. Sometimes it’s physical compaction. Sometimes it’s salts. Sometimes it’s sodium affecting soil structure. Sometimes the problem is deeper in the profile than it looks from the surface.

In this episode, I introduce the first article in my Better Farming Prairies series on tight soils. I talk about why diagnosis matters, common misdiagnoses like “alkali” patches and magnesium, and why tools like a shovel, Dutch auger, and penetrometer can help separate surface symptoms from what’s really happening below.

This is the start of a series on tight soils. Next month I’ll take a short detour into physical compaction, then return to chemically tight soils: saline, sodic, saline-sodic and solonetzic soils.

--------In case you’re new here, I’m Scott Gillespie—an Alberta-based writer and independent agronomy consultant. My work focuses on #RealisticRegenAg for organic and conventional farms. I provide practical, science-backed advice shaped by two decades of experience across a range of farming systems, with particular expertise in irrigated production.

--------Transcript with links to everything mentioned in the episode:https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/podcast/diagnosing-tight-soils

Article link: https://www.betterfarming.com/flippingbook/better-farming-prairie/2026/july-august/40/index.html

Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/plantsdigsoil/newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6944029544697802752

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@scottcgillespie

Podcast: https://anchor.fm/scottcgillespie

(Look below Spotify for other apps or just search “Plants Dig Soil” in your favourite app.)

Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/books

Consulting packages: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#consulting

Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/speaking

Funding service offerings: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork

Email: [email protected]

Call/text/WhatsApp:403-654-3096

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/

You can’t plan the weather, but you can plan how you’ll respond when it hits. I’ll walk you through the key principles, grounded in research and on-farm experience. If you want the full breakdown, check out my full article in Better Farming Prairies this month.

Transcript with links to everything mentioned in the episode:https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/podcast/frost-heat-hailNewsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/plantsdigsoil/newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6944029544697802752 YouTube: (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@scottcgillespie Podcast: https://anchor.fm/scottcgillespie (Look below Spotify for other apps or just search “Plants Dig Soil” in your favourite app.)Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/books Consulting packages: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#consulting Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/speaking Funding service offerings: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork Email: [email protected] Call/text/WhatsApp:403-654-3096LinkedIn (Scott): https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/

Have recent geopolitical events left you short on nitrogen? Or are you holding back due to high input costs and uncertainty around how much you’ll sell the crop for?

The good news is that for most of our other nutrients we can short them for one year as long as we haven’t been shorting them for many years. When you keep up with replacement then you have a buffer in place.

Nitrogen is not like this. Applying some upfront is nearly always needed. There’s always the option to top up later—if conditions improve and product is available.

But just because you can doesn’t always mean you should. Cereals and oilseeds take up nitrogen faster than many expect. By the time you’re ready to top up, the crop may have already locked in its yield potential based on what it sensed during early root exploration.

This month, I focus on a practical framework to help you decide when a split nitrogen strategy makes sense. I’ll also point you back to a few articles that can help you if you are struggling with what to do about the other nutrients, including the value of biostimulants, humic acids, and other non-traditional fertility sources.Transcript with links to everything mentioned in the episode:https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/podcast/navigating-fertilizer-uncertaintyNewsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/plantsdigsoil/newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6944029544697802752 YouTube: (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@scottcgillespie Podcast: https://anchor.fm/scottcgillespie (Look below Spotify for other apps or just search “Plants Dig Soil” in your favourite app.)Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/books Consulting packages: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#consulting Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/speaking Funding service offerings: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork Email: [email protected] Call/text/WhatsApp:403-654-3096 LinkedIn (Scott): https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/

Residuals, in-crop chemistry, crop competition, and rotation all interact to have a greater effect than what is used in any single season. Listen to learn more, and see an excellent example of how an unintentional check strip that showed the power of residuals. Transcript with links to everything mentioned in the episode:https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/podcast/relieving-pressure-with-residuals Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/plantsdigsoil/newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6944029544697802752 YouTube: (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@scottcgillespie Podcast: https://anchor.fm/scottcgillespie (Look below Spotify for other apps or just search “Plants Dig Soil” in your favourite app.)Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/books Consulting packages: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#consulting Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/speaking Funding service offerings: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork Email: [email protected] Call/text/WhatsApp:403-654-3096 LinkedIn (Scott): https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/

For this month, my article focuses on rotation. It’s hard to quantify but the effects of it are real. With weather, markets, and geopolitical risks all very real concerns this year a good rotation adds stability. No one crop will carry the farm, but, just as importantly, no one crop will put the farm at risk.Transcript with links to everything mentioned in the episode:https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/podcast/rotation-is-risk-managementNewsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/plantsdigsoil/newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6944029544697802752 YouTube: (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@scottcgillespie Podcast: https://anchor.fm/scottcgillespie (Look below Spotify for other apps or just search “Plants Dig Soil” in your favourite app.)Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/books Consulting packages: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#consulting Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/speaking Funding service offerings: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork Email: [email protected] Call/text/WhatsApp:403-654-3096 LinkedIn (Scott): https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/

Discussion of two recent magazine articles that I wrote. One article looks at pest control through a post-harvest lens — basically treating the season to a post-mortem. The other looks at seed decisions, especially around saved seed versus certified seed.

Upcoming: Foothills County talk (south of Calgary, AB) Jan 28/26The Builder, The Banker, The Brewer https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-builder-the-banker-the-brewer-tickets-1978190561220

Transcript with links to everything mentioned in theepisode:https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/podcast/planning-starts-at-harvest

Newsletter signup: 
https://mailchi.mp/plantsdigsoil/newsletterhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6944029544697802752

YouTube: (Company):
https://www.youtube.com/@scottcgillespie

Podcast:
https://anchor.fm/scottcgillespie(Look below Spotify for other apps or just search “Plants Dig Soil” in your favourite app.)

Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for ClimateSmart Agriculture https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/books 

Consulting packages:
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#consulting 

Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design:
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/speaking 

Funding service offerings: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork

Email:
[email protected]

Call/text/WhatsApp:
403-654-3096   

LinkedIn (Scott):
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/  

Crops take nutrients off the farm. Can food-waste biostimulants bring them back? Are they worth your time and money? In this episode I’ll dig in to nutrient imports, exports, how you can calculate the flows on your farm, and whether it’s worth trying some of the many products hitting the market.

Upcoming: Foothills County talk (south of Calgary, AB) Dec 11/25
The Builder, The Banker, The Brewer
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-builder-the-banker-the-brewer-tickets-1968841229116

Transcript with links to everything mentioned in theepisode:
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/podcast/what-leaves-the-farm-what-comes-back

Newsletter signup: 
https://mailchi.mp/plantsdigsoil/newsletterhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6944029544697802752

YouTube: (Company):
https://www.youtube.com/@scottcgillespie

Podcast:
https://anchor.fm/scottcgillespie(Look below Spotify for other apps or just search “Plants Dig Soil” in yourfavourite app.)

Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for ClimateSmart Agriculture

https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/books 

Consulting packages:
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#consulting 

Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design:
https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/speaking 

Funding service offerings: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork

Email:
[email protected]

Call/text/WhatsApp:
403-654-3096  

LinkedIn (Scott):
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/  

LinkedIn (Company):
https://www.linkedin.com/company/plants-dig-soil   

Soil testing isn’t an expense—it’s an investment. In my latest Better Farming Prairies article, I share how a few dollars per acre in testing can save thousands in fertilizer costs and help you make smarter, better-timed decisions. Read “Test Smarter to Spend Less” to see how good data pays off in the field.

#RealisticRegenAg #SoilTesting #PrecisionAgriculture #FertilizerEfficiency #SustainableFarming #ClimateSmartAgriculture

Transcript with links to everything mentioned in the episode:

https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/podcast/test-smarter-spend-less

Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/plantsdigsoil/newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6944029544697802752

YouTube: (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@scottcgillespie Podcast: https://anchor.fm/scottcgillespie (Look below Spotify for other apps or just search “Plants Dig Soil” in your favourite app.)

Practical Regeneration: Realistic Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/books

Consulting packages: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#consulting

Speaking, Teaching, & Workshop Design: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/speaking

Funding service offerings: https://www.plantsdigsoil.com/pricing/#paperwork Email: [email protected]

Call/text/WhatsApp:403-654-3096

LinkedIn (Scott): https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/

LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/plants-dig-soil