stain for testing, was RE: [compost_tea] Re: PLUM CURCULIO ?

From: Paulette Mouchet <geomouchet_at_QNET.COM>
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 08:31:20 -0800

This is so cool! As long as it's not too expensive, it's the perfect
solution for the backyard gardener! I do hope you'll keep us informed.

Paulette Mouchet

-----Original Message-----
From: soilfoodweb_at_aol.com [mailto:soilfoodweb_at_aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2004 9:06 AM
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Re: PLUM CURCULIO ?

Please, check your tea to make sure it really is what you think. Does it
really have the biology needed?

We are working on a way for you to figure out certain parts of whether your
tea is getting where it needs, and doing the job you need.

The microscope for home-owners is just too expensive ($9000). The mobile UV
light source would cost about $70,000. Gulp. So, not an option, right?
It's cheaper to buy the scope we have at SFI, and pay to hire your own
technican.

Back to drawing board.

Then one day, Art Krunzel suggested a different stain that could be used.
So we are working on testing that.

This stain would be added to your tea, probably just at the end of a spray.
The color of the stain on the leaf surface would tell you if the spray
covered the leaf surface adequately. You could see percent coverage. Then,
if the organisms were doing their job, the stain would be used as a food
resource by the organisms, and the color would disappear.

Doesn't tell you if you have the fungal biomass needed, so that would still
need to go to SFI to be determined. But you would know whether the tea
covered adequately, and if the organisms were active and growing, or whether
they didn't survive transfer to the leaf surface. If the color did not
cover at least 70%, you would know ASAP you have a sprayer problem. If the
stain didn't disappear, you would know either the tea brewing process wasn't
good, or you have a problem with your sprayer.

We are trying to get the testing done on this by the end of January (must
make sure the stain is food-grade. That requires some documentation). The
stain is not expensive, and you need just a drop in a quart of tea being
sprayed. So, something like a teaspoon in your last gallon of tea to be
sprayed when using a back-pack. A pint (liter) of stain in your last 100
gallons when doing boom sprays or irrigation or circles.

Cool, huh? Thank Art K. for the idea!

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 Sun Jan 04 2004 - 12:08:13 EST

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