Re: [compost_tea] Forest soil

From: Frank L Teuton <fteuton_at_sympatico.ca>
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2003 10:49:44 -0400

With respect to Paul and Jeff, I cannot agree that borrowing soil from
forest land is such a great problem that it should never be done.

Certainly, wilderness areas and other protected lands should not be the
source of our inoculants, but other healthy forest soils can stand being
carefully harvested in small doses, especially if the harvested area is
covered with suitable mulch materials.

In their discussion of regenerating soils using chipped branch wood, Caron,
Lemieux and Lachance speak of the need to inoculate with forest soils,
asking for between 10-20 grams per square meter, or 100-200 kilograms per
hectare:

http://www.sbf.ulaval.ca/brf/regenerating_soils_98.html

Even this amount I find feasible in many locations, but using aerobically
amplified compost tea (AACT) methods it may be possible to greatly reduce
the need for such amounts of soil (actually surface duff and moist O horizon
materials).

But eliminate them entirely? What other sources for locally adapted foodweb
populations, including the vital fungal species, should we use? Is importing
everything from Alaska really the answer?

I find notes of impractical fanaticism creeping into the list, from the
idea of putting sulpomag into the compost and then making compost tea to
apply it to the plant ( I certainly agree with the first part of this, but
then the compost needs to be field applied, unless we are going to be
applying a megaton of tea) to Bob's '5 gallons to the bush' megadose
suggestion, to this business of never harvesting forest soils as inoculants.

The greatest promise of teas is the delivery to plants leaves and roots of
organisms lacking there. Small amounts of teas can get the job done, in
theory as little as five gallons to the acre. For delivery of nutrients a
whole lot more tea is needed. Do the math.

For plowdown of green manures, the idea of inoculation isn't new; Pfeiffer
actually patented a Field Spray for this purpose. I haven't seen a whole lot
of research on either his product nor on compost teas used in the same way,
but I certainly think it can't hurt to try it.

I'd be interested to see whether Caron et al would find a suitable compost
tea culture an acceptable way to reduce the amount of soil inoculant they
call for, to inoculate the chipped branch wood amendment.

Frank Teuton


----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Harvey
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2003 11:24 PM
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Forest soil


Very true.
However one must remember that in places in New Zealand and Australia many
farms have extensive old growth or mature forests still viable on their
farms. I personally believe that we can learn from these areas and hopefully
manage these areas better. Especially when we realise the value they
represent. Many farms in the past have had these areas bulldozed and burnt.
These forests represent areas where we can get inoculums that may be very
beneficial for farms and horticulture crops.
Management is the issue.
Where else can we get these organisms (indemic to the area)?
Incidentally West Aus has a HUGE range of Mychorizal fungi in its forests.
Regards Mike Harvey.
www.composttea.com.au


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Received on Sat Jul 19 2003 - 12:23:07 EDT

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