[compost_tea] Re: Re: RE: Aerators

From: Kirk Leonard <kirk_at_oregonatural.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2004 12:53:15 -0700
Kevin & Bob -- Yes, those numbers are not wimpy - from Kevin's posts:

> Tea
> 65AB  11,008TB  19.7AF  102TF  3.5HD  17F  14A  1C  0N

> AH
> AB191  TB421  AF34.4  TF1228  HD2.5

But they also are puzzling.  Relatively huge TB in tea but AB reduced
dramatically, similar AF drop, but TF down 10X.  To make these comparisons,
which I think are important, I think compost test needs to be more proximate
to tea - same batches would be best.  I think we're looking at different
composts, especially if you did oat flour activation.  I'd like to hear
Doc's reading of these numbers, as I think we may be looking at an apple and
orange comparison situation here. Ciliates and nematodes also must be in
compost to be in tea since they don't reproduce there, so that's not a tea
problem, generally.  Comparable numbers for compost would have made this a
really interesting report.

> Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2004 09:19:37 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Robert Norsen <bnbrew_at_yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: Re: RE: Aerators

> Kirk, when we introduced a dye to trace the water movement created by the
single aerator we found circulation included the entire tank at a good rate.
Spreading the air as in a multiple nozzle reduced the circulation.  Like a
narrow stream runs faster than a wide stream of the same flow   Your
observation is correct about the activity in the extractor vs the activity
in the container.  About 100 to one stronger in the extractor. That's why
the extractor.  To scrub the microbes from the compost.
But once out of the compost we don't want to keep beating on them.  Just
want to gently give them O2 and let them eat, make love, whatever.  But
Kirk, thanks for your observation and comment.  Bob <

Bob: Couple questions:  What was container shape?  Flat or cone bottom?  I
imagine a cone could better distribute air from a single endcap nozzle in
its bottom, but that it wouldn't do as well in a flat bottom container.

How did you introduce the dye?  I've used kelp introduced at water top to do
similar observations in the past and noticed it takes only a few seconds to
disperse.  Working with a flat bottom container, best I could assess was how
it did on the bottom, which was fine because that was what I wanted to know,
but I saw no way to assess overall circulation.  (short of using a
transparent container - anybody got a beaker that big?:)

Have to say "Spreading the air as in a multiple nozzle reduced the
circulation" does not make intuitive sense.  Did the multiple nozzles have
same air supply?  Would you say a little more about that?

-- Kirk





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Received on Sun Apr 11 2004 - 23:15:06 EDT

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