Re: [compost_tea] Re: quantities ?

From: Michael Harvey (mharvey@westnet.com.au)
Date: Mon Jan 13 2003 - 08:44:43 EST


"....amount of compost per volume of water is non-linear. The more water, =
the less compost is needed........."

I do not really understand why the amounts of compost added to the brewer s=
hould reduce as CT volume increases. I understood that we are extracting fu=
ngi etc from the compost and the total fungal biomass relates to the amount=
 extracted from the compost (as well as what grows). Thus less compost, les=
s fungi extracted?? Also if we reduce the amount of compost (per gallon CT)=
used in the brew won't this result in lower amounts of nutrients extracted =
since there is less compost? I would have thought that these nutrients ar=
e the important ones as they should be the most complex and diverse in natu=
re and thus will support a diverse range of fungi etc.
I also do not understand why there is a need to emphasize alternative food=
 sources for the tea when all these complex/diverse food sources are in the=
 compost ( good quality stuff that is) already . To my way of thinking shou=
ldn't we just make sure we extract these food sources from the compost?
If we are relying on a relatively small number of food sources (say 5 or 10=
) then won't this result in a relatively less diverse range of fungi bacter=
ia etc in the CT? If we are growing 1000s of different species of fungi in =
CT I would have thought we would require 100s or 1000s of different nutrien=
ts in the CT? This surely can only be done by extracting most of the nutrie=
nts from the compost/s?
It occurs to me that Compost Tea is called that because the principle ingre=
dient is COMPOST not molasses, Humic acid kelp etc.
Anyway thanks again for your contributions Elaine, it definitely does help!=
!!
Regards Mike Harvey.
   

  The amount of compost per volume of water is non-linear. The more water,=
 the less compost is needed.

  So, there's a bacterial tea machine maker that has told people that their=
 100 gal machine needs 100 lbs of compost. Phew! They must be selling co=
mpost! There should be no reason, at all, that much compost is required.

  The relationship between amount of compost and volume of water does have =
alot to do with the machine design. A really poorly designed machine is go=
ing to take a great deal more compost than a well-designed machine. Which =
maybe says something about the machine in the above example - it is a reall=
y poor design.

  So, weight of compost per volume of water in decent COMPOST tea machines =
-

  About a pound of compost for 5 gal of water, 7 lbs for 25 gal, 10 lbs for=
 50 gal, 12 lbs for 100 gal, 15 - 20 lbs for 500 gal

  Now, the amount of molasses, kelp etc needs to relate to the needs of you=
r plants.

  Kelp is put in to provide surface area for the fungi, AND for nutrients f=
or the plant. So, what amount of nutrient does the plant need? Amount add=
ed to the tea ought to be relative to that need. Fungi just need a small a=
mount of surface area - an ounce in 5 gal, for example. So, the nutrient n=
eeds of the plant should be assessed to figure out the kelp amount.

  Molasses amount relates more to the machine - how good is the machine at =
keeping things aerated? In the Growing Solutions machine, for example, NO =
MOLASSES at all should be used. Or it grows E. coli. Well, maybe it grows=
 E. coli with the addition of just about anything.

  But most tea machine makers have done TESTING to determine what recipe re=
sults in good tea. If they have the numbers, then they have the recipe wor=
ked out. Ask your machine maker for the recipe. Or do a little testing yo=
urself.

  Make a tea - goes smelly? Too much food for the organisms. Tea seems go=
od? Put it in a sealed plastic container 1/2 full for 24 hours in a warm p=
lace. Smell ok? then send a sample in to see if you have the bacteria and=
 fungi, maybe protozoa.

  Then you know your recipe is right. Or you get to try some more....

  Hope this helps -

  Elaine
  President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
  www.soilfoodweb.com
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