Re: [compost_tea] H202

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 11:41:17 -0500

H2O2 is hydrogen peroxide. When added to anything containing catalase (which means the biology to make catalase must be present and functioning, i.e., active, not just present), H2O2 breaks down to water and an oxygen radical (O-)

That oxygen radical is EXTREMELY reactive, and will destroy membrane integrity of any organism that does not have a mechanism to deal with that reactive compound. So, H2O2 can be a great sterilant, which is why we use it on cut, scrapes, wounds, etc. It kills alot of organisms.

So using it for soil remediation to GROW organisms? I don't think so.

But H2O2 does supply oxygen. So if you have anaerobic conditions in soil, and you therefore have a whole bunch of anaerobic organisms growing there, why not kill that biology that makes things that cause plant root to die?

So, aerate by adding H2O2, but then you HAVE TO inoculate aerobic, beneficial organisms after that, so they then rule, instead of the anaerobic organisms recovering and taking over again.

So, hydrogen peroxide can help you move in the right direction, but PLEASE, understand why it works, or you will mess up sometime, thinking you are doing the right thing, when in fact you could be harming the very things you need to encourage.

OK?

Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
SFI Corvallis, OR
SFI Port Jefferson, NY
SFI Lismore, NSW, Australia
SFI Hilversum, The Netherlands
SFI Cambridge, New Zealand
www.soilfoodweb.com

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Received on Wed Dec 17 2003 - 16:06:02 EST

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