RE: [compost_tea] Butch, Want to start neophyte thread?

From: Bobbie, Hugh, Marley & Hoebie <hri7064_at_msn.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 18:52:16 -0800

Butch wrote: An area with years of compost, plenty of organic
matter. The plants are growing well and with no added
fertilizer period. I don't think I'm talking about the
feeding soil or helping soil that needs a lot of help.
It seems I'm feeding the organisms that are there and
I'm not sure under these conditions the tea or
anything else is needed.

Hugh:  The way I think about it is your compost is feeding the
microorganisms, they in turn are making nutrients available for your
plants.  I would think that as long as there are no large disturbances
(like 40 days/nights of rain, okay maybe that's a little extreme) there
would be no reason to re-inoculate with compost tea.  In this scenario I
think all one would have to do is add back enough nutrients to make up
for what's removed (fruits, veggies, etc).  If you add in tillage, lots
of traffic, herbicides, etc then I think re-inoculation with tea will be
required.

Butch wrote:  My question was and is not about ACT but the mixture
before it has been brewed and becomes ACT. For example
the molasses would not be turned into organism yet. It
might have kelp, Alaska humus, etc but not brewed.

Hugh:  Is the question here can you add food to the soil to stimulate
microbe growth (assuming they are present) without brewing a tea?  My
answer would be a resounding yes.  For example sugar (or molasses) for
the bacteria and fish for the fungus.

Hugh:  I was coming at this from the other direction.  I got the
impression from previous posts that one could apply compost tea as a
drench without consideration of existing soil conditions.  If you
consider the example I gave (turf on compacted clay low in organic
matter) I wouldn't think you would get lasting results without aeration
and compost followed with tea.

Thanks,

Hugh


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Received on Wed Feb 02 2005 - 23:18:53 EST

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