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RE: [compost_tea] protozoa



Dear Jeff:

About letting it sink.  I have the feeling all this info. is sinking into a 
bottomless pit, never to resurface in an understandable form... ;-)

But, really, many thank yous for clarifying.  I do feel like a few things 
are starting to make sense.

I'd love to go to Dr. E's seminar.  Wish she'd do one in the LA area.

Paulette

-----Original Message-----
From:	Jeff Lowenfels [SMTP:jeff@gardener.com]
Sent:	Sunday, May 11, 2003 10:49 AM
To:	compost_tea@yahoogroups.com
Subject:	Re: [compost_tea] protozoa

Paulette,

You have to let this stuff sink. The protozoa are after Carbon AND 
Nitrogen. They need carbon for energy production and nitrogen for synthesis 
of amino acids and proteins.  They are not eating primarily for the 
nitrogen, but the carbon......

The forests don't have nitrifying bacteria so the ammonium stays in that 
form. In row crop situations there are usually nitrifying bacteria so the 
ammonium is converted to nitrite and then nitrate.

Why? It is all in the book you have in front of you:Simplified, bacteria 
produce slime which has a pH above 7. Fungi produce organic acids with a pH 
below 7. Nitrifying bacteria prefer a pH above 7 and so don't exist in high 
numbers in soils dominated by fungi...i.e. forest.

I would suggest you go to one of Dr. Elaine's seminars and or order the CDs 
from the SFI site. If you go to www.alaskahumus.com you will find lots of 
links and sources, books and notes.

Cheers,

Jeff << File: ATT00030.htm >> 

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