Tight soil isn’t a diagnosis: How to separate compaction from chemical soil problems

“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-soilsArticle link: https://www.betterfarming.com/flippingbook/better-farming-prairie/2026/july-august/40/index.htmlNewsletter 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:403-654-3096LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgillespie/