December 04, 2025

S3 E63 Tinfoil Turfgrass: How to Evaluate Claims When The Salesman Knows More Than You.

1 hour 29 minutes

In this video, I provide an in-depth, evidence-based critique of the nitrogen-efficiency product RDX-N and the claims made in the promotional video circulating online. If you’ve ever wondered whether biostimulants, nitrogen enhancers, or “metabolic activators” actually work in real-world turfgrass or crop management, this breakdown is for you. I review the product’s marketing claims, examine the data presented in the official RDX-N brochure, and explain what the science really says about nitrogen uptake, nitrogen metabolism, and plant physiology.

But this video is more than a review of one product—it's a lesson in how to evaluate agronomic claims using critical thinking and epistemology.

When you understand how knowledge is justified, you’re better equipped to:

• Identify misleading or unproven claims

• Recognize when data is incomplete, selective, or irrelevant

• Avoid being persuaded by marketing language

• Make informed decisions based on reliable evidence

In turfgrass, agriculture, and lawn care, new products appear constantly—each claiming to increase yields, improve nitrogen efficiency, reduce inputs, or boost plant health. Without strong critical thinking skills, it’s easy to be misled. Epistemology—the study of how we know what we know—helps protect you when you’re confronted with products, technologies, or scientific claims you’ve never heard of.

By the end of this video, you’ll understand:

• What RDX-N claims to do

• Whether those claims are supported by high-quality evidence

• How to assess scientific credibility in turfgrass and crop management

• How to apply critical thinking when evaluating any agronomic product

If you’re a turfgrass manager, agronomist, sports field manager, lawn care professional, or scientifically curious homeowner, this channel will help you make smarter, evidence-driven decisions.

Subscribe to Turfgrass Epistemology for more videos on turfgrass science, nitrogen management, soil fertility, agronomy, and the critical thinking skills needed to navigate misinformation in the industry.

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Turfgrass Programs and Extension Service Information:

https://www.usna.usda.gov/assets/images/as_pdf_image/LandGrantColleges.pdf

Diagnostic Criteria for Turfgrass Bullshit Disorder:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_GeVPQ237pzm0ImTP4eVij6I9D0PHPn/view

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By Travis Shaddox

4.7

1919 ratings