Visual Soil Assessments | Nicole Masters | RegenerateLA Training Series 1 | Part 13

In this video, Nicole Masters discusses how to visually assess soils by examining texture, structure, smell, color, and other indicators. Nicole also discusses the tools, like refractometers, that can be used to assess soil and plant health.
The RegenerateLA Training is designed to provide City staff, land managers, and soil health advocates with information on 1) how to build and maintain soil health, 2) how to compost and why composting organic waste is an important way to promote climate resilience, and 3) using native plants to promote ecological resilience. In Series 1, Nicole Masters covers how to assess soil health, why soil health is important, and how regenerative land management can reduce inputs and costs and increase resilience.

[@fernandonerva7754]

Amazing Nicole , thank you!

[@billybudz]

Are sufficient brixx levels different in plant species? A brixx of 12 for plantain seems arbitrary. ✌️

[@timothysandoval3679]

No. most plants and trees align precisely with those brix numbers as far as different levels of pest and disease resistance. brix levels above 12 typically mean the plant is so healthy it has enough excess nutrients and photosynthetic energy to invest into plant defense compounds, converts all simple sugars into complex carbohydrates and all simple amino acids & nitrates into complete proteins on a daily basis, as well as stores additional fats and waxes. Just like how we cannot digest the complex compounds cellulose & lignin in grass and trees, pest insects have even simpler digestive systems that mandate a specific diet. (such as simple sugars or free nitrate nitrogen in plant sap, or minerally compromised plant tissue cells)