[compost_tea] Re: High Nitrate levels in water

From: compostconvert <pribac_at_westnet.com.au>
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 13:18:37 -0000
Thanks Dr Elaine & Joao for your comments about additional food to
allow the bacteria and fungi to tie up the nitrate. Some Ag. Dept
Extension services in Australia advocate adding molasses to the
irrigation water at the rate of 40 litres per hectare, after
application of urea. (But don't talk in terms of increasing soil
bacteria populations or specifically addressing the high water
nitrate concentration - authorities just seem to take these nitrate
levels for granted.)

Yes, the water is the town water supply for human consumption and
subject to regulation. The health department claims that it is 1/10
of the allowable potable standard for humans, but acknowleges that
the nitrate level is a problem with newborn babies and provides
bottled water to mothers who formula feed!

Regards,
Constance


--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "Vida na Terra" <vida-na-
terra_at_o...> wrote:
> Dr. Elaine,
>
> At present sugar beet producers are having big problems as they
are producing alot of tonnage but with little sugar with the added
problems of the pest attacks also due to high Nitrates.
> We have some areas here in Portugal with 200 ppm of Nitrate in
bore hole water, if we apply CT and keep irragating with this water.
> Should we add molasses to the irrigation water ? Will the soil
organisms act as a filter for Nitrates reducing the leaching and in
turn feeding the plant as per her needs ? Do we run the risk of lack
of oxygen in the soil ?
>
> Regards
> Joao Ventura
> Vida na Terra, Lda.
>
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>   From: soilfoodweb_at_a...
>   To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 3:51 AM
>   Subject: Re: [compost_tea] High Nitrate levels in water
>
>
>   Wow, how can any government allow nitrate at that high level in
any water source?
>
>   Or is this a well, or bore, and not subject to regs, because not
a drinking water source?
>
>   Joao is correct - add enough food to the tea to tie-up the
nitrate by having the bacteria and fungi immobilize the N.  That
means adding extra food resources - an with that you will have an
increased demand for oxygen.  You may need to monitor oxygen
carefully, and add addition aeration. 
>
>   Elaine R. Ingham
>   Soil Foodweb Inc., Corvallis, Oregon
>   Soil Foodweb Inc., Port Jefferson, New York
>   Soil Foodweb Institute, Lismore Australia
>   Soil Foodweb Institue Cambridge, New Zealand
>   Soil Foodweb Inc., Hilversum, The Netherlands
>   Laboratorios de Soil Foodweb, Culiacan, Mexico
>   Soil Foodweb Inc., Jerome, Idaho
>
>
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Received on Fri Jul 09 2004 - 10:21:42 EDT

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