Re: [compost_tea] Herb and Weed Tea Query

From: oliver hauver <enoc2222_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 16:30:49 -0800 (PST)

Hi
I was wondering if alfalfa tea was part of this
LMK
Oliver

soilfoodweb_at_aol.com wrote:
In response to the question about aerobic versus anaerobic decomposition -
 
Aerobic decomposition is usually "complete" - in other words, the final products are CO2 and water. Along the way, microbial biomass is formed, but it all eventually gets consumed, as long as we are talking aerobic conditions.
 
In anaerobic conditions, decomposition is incomplete. Anaerobic metabolic processes leave you with a complex set of putrefying organic matter, otherwise known as sludge, which will never get broken down, until oxygen is introduced (or oxygen in the form of certain kinds of thermal vent compounds).
 
So, anaerobic digestion will always leave you with a problem. Aerobic leaves you with CO2 and water, eventually.
 
But, some anaerobic metabolites are good pesticides and so useful as organic forms of pest control.
 
But I personally prefer to enhance biology, not toxics.
 
We can develop the science to make sure that the conditions to consistently produce the organic pesticide are known. But there's a great deal of work needed to be able to provide the guarantee that is possible with the aerobic teas. Not so yet with the anaerobic - aerobic switching back and forth teas.
 
For example, European regulatory agencies are purported to have stated, or soon will state, that compost teas made without careful documentation of the conditions of brewing will not be usable in ag. Too many people making horrible messes using non-documented brews. So much for "European methods" being as wonderful as Brinton is trying to make us believe. Facts are, we need to be careful about making tea in a controlled fashion. And we have done that with the AACT methods.
 
But lots of "folk-wisdom" out there that needs to be tapped, and developed.
 
Let's just make it clear that these other ways of making liquid amendments are not, and should not, be called compost tea.
 
They are plant teas. They are often anaerobic. Clearly not AACT. But they should be discussed on the compost tea list serve. There are interesting things that could develop from these forms of tea.
 
Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc, Oregon
Soil Foodweb Inc., Australia
Soil Foodweb Inc., New York
Soil Foodweb Inc., New Zealand
Soil Foodweb Inc., The Netherlands
Soil Foodweb, Inc., Mexico
Board Member, Sustainable Studies Institute, Eugene, OR


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Received on Sat Nov 15 2003 - 20:08:19 EST

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