[compost_tea] Re: Re: chitin, chitinase, crab shells

From: Kirk Leonard <kirk_at_oregonatural.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 14:12:13 -0700

Goodness yes, Thanks Anne, I tried to yap about this a couple times, but no
takers... Still believe a chitin-spiked vermicompost shows promise for
phylloxera, a deadly grape root bug.

Doc, Jeff: I don't understand Hahn's patent to affect anyone using chitin
sources in vermicompost. In any event, I don't believe he can enforce that
meaningfully or legally. As long as you don't sell/advertise vermicompost
as a pest killer, or whatever naming he succeeded in patenting, as it were,
there should be no issue. Jeff - you're the legal eagle here, what say ye?

Part of the absurdity of the patent is that most all vermicomposts have
levels of chitinase properties - worms are not dumb, they have learned to
produce things the plants they rely on benefit from... Some composts same,
much lower levels. Doc?

Not sure about chitin in tea - would be concerned about bees and lady bugs
and effectiveness. Pretty sure about chitin in direct applications of
spiked compost and vermicompost to compete with insects, and to enable the
plant to repel them.

I have an experiment going in a phylloxerated vineyard but not long enough.
What I have seen in roses is that a dollop of good vermicompost a couple
times a year - on the ground at plant base, mulched over - does wonders for
reducing insect problems, and the lady bugs and bees still come 'round...
noticed some beautiful tiny wasps I hadn't seen before, whacking other bugs
this year, too.

Kirk L




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Received on Thu Oct 16 2003 - 20:49:51 EDT

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