Re: [compost_tea] leonardite or humic acid products

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 15:25:11 EST

 
The easiest way to cut through the hype is to ask them for data showing that
in fact their product does the things they say, and ask them WHY the
material would do what they say.
 
If you get more hype, write them off as snake-oil.
 
If they can document what they say, and explain WHY it does what they claim,
that would be great!
 
Typically, data shows that it is the proper biology. Not just one or two
species does the whole she-bang, of course, you have to have the whole foodweb.
 
 
And not just my data show this, there are more and more pubs in the
scientific literature showing the causes for the individual benefits.
 
It's just that no one can afford the cures one-species-at-a-time. Compost
provides the whole foodweb, if compost was made right, and comes with the
critters that are selected for your climate, if you buy local compost.
 
So, ask them for their data. It doesn't have to be published in a
scientific journal to be acceptable, of course. If they have some data showing
control and their product added, or showing pots with and without their product,
some data suggesting why the product did the improvements, that should
encourage you to try it.
 
We don't have to buy into the criticism of the person on this list serve who
likes to attack everything because scientific publication hasn't been done
over and over. He puts down publications even though they have been
peer-reviewed because those pubs don't fit his definition of published. And of course,
he asks us to believe him, even though he won't publish anything. He always
gets angry that his circumstances prevent him from publishing. Can't even
reveal his data, replicated or not. Right.
 
If there are solid data on plant yields, water use in the system, improved
plant nutrition, reduction of fertilizer, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes,
 mycorrhizal colonization, even plate counts, showing before and after
information, they might help us understand why the product does what it does.
 
Something more published in the peer-reviewed literature would be nice, but
most of us don't have the dollars to do the replicated studies. We need to
get the extension helping, doing the scientific studies.
 
And many of us are working with extension at this point. We have the data
showing there is a clear effect of getting the biology back on plant surfaces,
and in the soil. Those data are on the SFI website, in SFI publications
(most of which are at least peer-reviewed), and are being increased constantly
by work with SFI advisors. And others!
 
The observation phase is coming along well.
 
Now, we need to take those observations, and get the academics to stop
criticizing, and start doing their jobs. Get them to do things RIGHT. IF they
claim aerobic brews, they have to show data. If they claim improved biology,
they have to show data. IF they claim plants were killed, they have to show
data.
 
Forging ahead.....
 
Elaine
 



The group johnandbob soil optimizer on the web has caused a lot of
interest among landscapers and nurseries because it appears to be a
very inexpensive and low dosage way to boost growth of turf and
plants.

It's humic acid, fulvic acid and some minerals. The application
rates are very low and they claim wonderful results.

They claim that you can throw away your compost and not worry about
amending the soil, that water consumption will drop and other things.
To heck with worm castings. They even say throw away your mulch, I
believe.

In any case, it seems to be causing some people out there to feel
they have found the Holy Graile.

I believe humus and humic acid have been on the market for some time
and there is no proof that it can displace compost. It does not add
biology to the soil but perhaps feeds existing organisms.

I've heard it feeds the fungi but may hurt the bacteria.
It's a confusing picture and the low application rates and stated
performance make my suspicious.

Gary Jones
Soil Restoration Inc.
760 231 9860



Elaine R. Ingham
Soil Foodweb Inc., Corvallis, Oregon
Soil Foodweb Inc., Port Jefferson, New York
Soil Foodweb Institute, Lismore Australia
Soil Foodweb Institute Cambridge, New Zealand
Laboratorios de Soil Foodweb, Culiacan, Mexico
Soil Foodweb Inc., Jerome, Idaho
Soil Foodweb Inc., South Africa








Received on Mon Jan 17 2005 - 17:04:19 EST

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