From: compost160 <compost160_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 02 May 2004 17:38:45 -0000
After reading this post would it be safe to say that compost tea
products made-mined from the far north or far southern reaches would
not be as effective to those of us in the middle, geographically
speaking? Non native species don't do well away from home? Climate,
soil type, geographical location and native species deterimne
effectiveness of product?
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, soilfoodweb@a... wrote:
> Hi Mike -
>
> the beneficial nematodes should be able to take the pressure just
fine. The concern would be opening sizes on the drip nozzles. what
is the opening size? We need them to be in the range of 400
micrometers, or larger, so the big good guys can get through.
>
> Buying the predatory nematodes from the US doesn't make any sense,
since the sub-species you have in OZ are adapted to your soil types,
and climates. We do not have the same conditions in the US, so
US-imports don't survive well in your conditions.
>
> The exception is the conditions that you describe - where the soil
has been fumigated. There is no decent life left in that soil, so
addition of ANY kind of beneficials, OZ-adapted or not - will help
immensely.
>
> But, for long term survival, you want OZ-critters. So, keep looking
for that compost made in OZ that has the predatory nematodes present.
>
> Otherwise, stockpile some compost, and add predatory nematodes that
you extract (you may want to talk to the Lismore lab and get them to
save the predatory nematodes they find from all over OZ for you), into
that stockpile. They should grow and increase in numbers, but it will
take 6 months to a year for that to happen. They are slow-growers.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> --
> 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
> SFI Culiacan, Mexico
> http://www.soilfoodweb.com