Re: [compost_tea] chitin, chitinase, crab shells

From: Robert Norsen <bnbrew_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 18:05:45 -0700 (PDT)

Good subject Anne, Explains why ACT has an effect on insects but not people. Does it also mean we need too be careful about bees, lady bugs, some others? Bob

compostanne <Anne.C.Donahue_at_ci.eugene.or.us> wrote:I attended the Vermico conference in Portland this past weekend
(great conference by the way) and gleaned that finely ground
crab/lobster shells fed to a vermicomposting system or added to as a
tea nutrient selects for organisms (bacteria?) that break chitin
down.

The reason why (I think) this is important is that these organisms
are then used to control insects that have chitin in their bodies
(exoskeleton?), and fungal pathogens that also contain chitin.

I may or may not have the correct information here, and was hoping
this might stimulate discussion about using fine ground crab shells
as a nutrient in our teas, or the use of crab shell fed vermicompost
in our teas.

I'm also trying to locate a source of fine ground crab shells.

I would appreciate any thoughts any of you might have on this.

Anne Donahue



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Received on Wed Oct 15 2003 - 23:48:46 EDT

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