Re: [compost_tea] EM leachate "tea"
On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 01:03:47 EDT, soilfoodweb_at_aol.com
<soilfoodweb_at_aol.com> wrote:
> The yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, can grow over a range from aerobic to
> fairly low oxygen concentrations. It typically produces alcohol, although
> the concentration depends on the precise bio-type, or sub-species chosen to
> be added in these cultures. So, I don't like the alcohol producing ability
> of this additive to the mix.
Thanks for the info Elaine.
I must admit that the alcohol producing possibilities is one of the
things that concerns me the most.
With the bokashi compost you are supposed to drain away the leachate
on a regular basis, and I was assuming that this is where the alcohol
would end up, but then they recommend using it as a foliar spray. I
expect that spraying alcohol on the leaves would not necessarily be
the best thing for the plant's health.
25 years ago, I would have just brought a sample into my college
chemistry class and tested for the alcohol content, but all I remember
from chem 101 was that you counted the drops till the sample turned
purple, and that as soon as you get the experiment right, you got to
drink the rest of you "supplies" at the class party.
> So, there is more that needs to be done to understand what these bacteria
> and yeasts do in different conditions, and how much they can be trusted to
> prevent human pathogen growth in compost tea that goes into the low oxygen
> zone. But perusal of EM reports suggest there's useful possibilities. I'd
> really like to get together with EM researchers and scope this out.
And the rest of us would really love to hear whatever conclusions you
can come up with regarding EM and its effects on compost and compost
tea.
Dave
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Received on Sun Oct 24 2004 - 01:06:27 EDT
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