[compost_tea] inactive bacterial and fungi - activating and causing to live long and prosper

From: chris reid <reidchris_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2003 12:52:55 -0400

I just got my first soil analysis back for the hybrid tea roses and it was
fascinating. There is work to do!

In following the process from making a good tea to applying it and to then
having the microbes and fungi continue to colonize and thrive in the soil, I
have a couple of questions. They are closely related, so I have put them in
one message. If this is bad form, then I will look forward eagerly to a
reminder that I have made a mistake.

First, I have been following Paul Sachs's tea making and testing results
with interest. Here are links for those of you who would find it useful to
see them, in following this conversation:

 http://www.norganics.com/Test7-17.pdf

Test results are available at: http://www.norganics.com/tests.html NOTE:
If you click on the date you're interested in, much more information on how
the tea was brewed is available (water temp, additive amounts and timing,
and notes on brewing process).

For the purposes of this conversation, I am looking at the results for 7/17
and 7/24.

On 7/17, there is a much higher ratio of active to total fungi and bacteria,
respectively, than there is on 7/24. On 7/24, the ratio of numbers of
active vs. inactive bacteria and fungi is heavier on the inactive end. It
is my understanding that for this test, inactive means "sleeping", not dead.

QUESTION: Is this correct, the SFI inactive B or F test result number
distinguishes B and F that could be activated from dead B or F?

QUESTION: If I brew a tea that comes back with numbers like Paul's, and
inactive means "potentially active", and I add a tiny amount of fish
hydrolysate to activate them, then my tea at the time of application could
actually have a higher active B and F, couldn't it? Can I count on this
activation in gauging how potent the tea will be?

Finally, it seems that the whole process includes: make good tea, activate
inactive organisms, mix and add spreader and/or sticker, use a
microbeast-friendly means of applying tea to foliage or ground (avoid UV,
allow at least 30 mins to dry on leaves before it rains), and FEED THE
FOODWEB.

This brings us back to Paulette's recent post about what compost ingredients
provide for which parts of the food web.

QUESTION: To maximize the benefit of the application, should I be
simultaneously applying the K-rations for the food web members I am
applying? How does one identify the useful rate at which to apply web food?

Chris Reid


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Received on Thu Aug 07 2003 - 13:53:18 EDT

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