my main question is,
does anyone have any advice on how the product below would differ from compost
tea? A The product below has only 24
strains of beneficial bacteria and fungi compared to AACT made to SFI
specifications that has thousands of species. One of the reasons for this
is that durring screening of organisms for inoculants of this type one of the
criteria is that they can be put to sleep and have a shelf life and then
can be reliably activated again. This limits the number of species.
See SFI Compost tea brewers manual for
more detail, this document is essential if you are serious about using
AACT.
The product below does not have protozoa
or nematodes.
The cost per ha for the product
below will be far higher than brewing your own
AACT!!
my main concern with brewing my own compost tea is quality
control, so i am wondering if the product below would be more reliable to
introduce microbes. A. As far as I am aware this product has not
been tested at SFI, I am not sure if plate counts have been done either. Ask the
manufacturer.
You can brew your own AACT and send
tests to SFI Lismore by express post, send on Monday and it should reach Lismore
by Tue or Wed. This will give exceptional quality
control.
High Quality AACT is already
being produced in WA by myself and others using my machines. You can
contact me off line for more information (not allowed to advertise
here).
Can you tell us
more about how you are dealing with the heavy metals? Regards Mike Harvey B Hort Sci
i thought i would introduce
myself to the group. My name is clayton and i am farm manager at an organic
urban city farm in perth, Australia. The farm is situated on an old
scrap metal recycling yard and thus was contaminated with heavy metals such as
lead and zinc.
As part of our soil program i would like to be
introducing microbes. We have also recently noticed peach leaf curl on our
peaches and im hoping that regular applications of compost tea will help to
remedy this.
my main question is, does anyone have any advice on how
the product below would differ from compost tea?
this company looks very good and is local for me.
my main concern with brewing my own compost tea is quality control, so
i am wondering if the product below would be more reliable to introduce
microbes.
here is the
info from their website...........
Eco-Probiotics Soil Restorer
is a combination of cultured BENEFICIAL soil
bacteria and fungi micro-organisms. There are
four blends available, ³Garden², ³Lawn & Turf², ³Tree & Broadacre² and
³Trichoderma PLUS² - all specially selected for their use in
soil restoration and better nutrient release while helping with pathogen
control.
90% of the living mass on earth is in the top 25cm of soil! The soil
should be alive!
All nutrient transactions
within the soil require bacteria and fungi (85% of these are beneficial and
vital for nutrient exchange and subsequent availability to our plants, crops
and pasture.)
Eco-Probiotics Soil
Restorer inoculates the soil with
beneficial microbes (soil structure builders, decomposers, nutrient builders,
nitrogen fixers, protectors, and plant growth hormone producers).
Micro-organisms select what they need to make the compounds of life (and in a
form that are BIO-AVAILABLE), and reject the waste that is not needed, (eg
aluminium, iron, etc) which are generally in excess in our soils.
Micro-organisms also control what goes into the plant roots.
Note: These natural controls may be TURNED OFF when the soil is
made more acid or excessive acidic chemicals are added.
General Analysis
:
MAIN STRAINS
Azotobacter:
Produce plant growth hormones.
Azosporillum:
Free living nitrogen fixers-converting atmosphere nitrogen in the
soil.
Bacilli:
Lactic acid bacteria, helps with soil condition
structure.
Cellulosic
Fungi: One of the few decomposers of organic matter
(cellulose) turning stubble into organic carbon.
Mycorrhiza:
Nutrient converters and actively source phosphorus from the
soil.
Phoshobacter: Converts
phosphorus into plant available ³P²
Pseudomonas: Soldier
bacteria helps protect plants against fungal attack in the root
zone.
Rhizobium:
Legume nitrogen fixers.
Streptomyces: Bacteria
that helps control pathogenic bacteria.
Saccharomyces: Yeasts that convert carbon
dioxide into sugars within the soil.
Trichoderma:
Potential to control soil diseases.
Modes of Action
:
Why the need for balanced populations of soil microbes?
Fact
A: The soil,
when healthy, has a living community of soil micro-organisms. Fact
B: These
micro-organisms are responsible for the continues breakdown of parent rock
materials and the decomposition of organic matter that provide a continuous
supply of nutrition for plant food. They also draw free nitrogen directly from
the atmosphere and make it available for use by plants. Fact
C: The population
and activity of healthy soil bacteria are directly related to the efficiency
of fertilizers, chemicals and soil nutrients. Fact
D: Most soils in
Australia have become biologically depleted in the past 20 years due to ever
increasing chemical use.
Beneficial micro-organisms form a vital
part in the world's cyclic food chain. When organic matter dies and
decomposes, bacteria and molds metabolize the highly complex organic molecules
into simple inorganic bio-available wastes. Elements of inorganic wastes are
then excreted back into the soil to be absorbed and utilized once again as
food by earthworms and plants. Some bacterial species release nitrogen,
sulfur, phosphorus, and trace elements from organic matter. Others break down
soil minerals and release potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and iron.
Still other species make and release natural plant growth hormones, which
stimulate root growth. A few species of bacteria fix nitrogen in the roots of
legumes while others fix nitrogen independently of plant association. Bacteria
are responsible for converting nitrogen from ammonium to nitrate and back
again depending on certain soil conditions. Other benefits to plants provided
by various species of bacteria include increasing the solubility of nutrients,
improving soil structure, fighting root diseases, and detoxifying soil.
Synthetic chemical fertilizers do little to build soil
fertility. They simply provide plants with an instant fix of growth elements,
then drain into and accumulate in the ground water and rivers leading to
over-nutrification and subsequent algal blooms etc. In fact, many chemical
fertilizers kill the micro-organisms and earthworms that keep soil productive
and healthy. Most beneficial microbes and earthworms are also very susceptible
to concentrated toxic chemicals (most pesticides, insecticides, fungicides and
herbicides) (Morgan AJ, Sturzenbaum SR, Winters C, Kille P.
Cellular and molecular aspects of metal sequestration and toxicity in
earthworms. Invertebr Reprod Dev 1999, 36(1-3),
17-24).
Although plants essentially require nitrogen, potassium,
and phosphorous (NPK), they also require many other trace nutrients, minerals,
hormones etc available only in healthy soils full of beneficial
microbes. The goal is to restore and / or maintain healthy soil - to
provide plants with all the nutrients and growth factors required to be
healthy. Many believe that by adding inorganic fertilizers (NPK) to their
soils they are ³feeding their plants². In reality, if there are quantities of
organic matter in the soil, approximately 80-90% of the inorganic fertilizers
are taken up into the life cycles of certain opportunistic microbes this
can lead to an overgrowth of these microbes; to the detriment of other
beneficial soil micro-organisms. Eventually, these opportunistic microbes die
and then the inorganic nutrients are released into the soil in a bio-available
form to be taken up by plant roots.
Soil Probiotics and Restorers
Recent
developments in microbiology have identified a range of highly advanced
beneficial soil microbes, which appear to have enormous problem-solving
potential for agriculture. The bacteria and fungi involved are sourced
from the same "master species" which comprise part of a new Soil
Probiotic that has produced dramatic results. The product has the greatest
impact where the living soil has been heavily worked, mechanically over-tilled
and has become unbalanced, and organic carbon levels have plummeted. To date,
toxic chemicals have provided dubious results; whereas the promise of this
hardy breed of Probiotic ³pro-life² bugs is exciting:
(Antibiotics = anti-life).
The Eco-Probiotics Soil
Restorer is a microbial soil inoculum
that contains a scientifically balanced blend of beneficial bacterial and
fungal organisms totaling 24 types and strains (including
Azotobacter, Azosporillum, Bacilli, Cellulosic fungi, Phosphobacter,
Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Streptomyces and Saccharomyces). Its
use greatly increases and stimulates the natural beneficial microorganisms,
resulting in massive population increases in the soil. It is 100%
organic and 100% non-toxic, and works to reintroduce & create a healthier
living environment for the normal functions of the desirable microorganisms
and earthworms, thus enhancing biological and sustainable life in the
soil.
Whilst the primary purpose of Probiotics are to balance microbial
activity, many important side benefits have been noted. The product is not a
fertiliser, fungicide, insecticide, herbicide or nematode control agent,
however users have consistently reported the following benefits:
-
a. Regulation of
the pH level.
b. Assists in the control of aggressive nematodes.
c. Assists in the control of pathogenic fungi.
d. Plant strength increases natural insect resistance.
e. Some insect pests are destroyed in the soil, notably lawn grub
(bacteria can break down the waxy coating of their
eggs).
f.
Reduction in water requirements.
g. Increased root formation.
h. Increased root quality.
i.
Root strength activates natural weed repulsion.
j.
Increased soil mineral availability (50 to 200%).
k. Dramatic reduction in chemicals and fertilisers required.
l.
Rapid breakdown of added organic
matter.
m. Increased
protein level of crops.
n. Improved fibre/moisture ratio aids frost
resistance.
r.
Soil improvement resists water and wind erosion.
s. Improved frost and drought resistance.
t.
Increased nutrient level of crops.
u. Increased earthworm activity.
STORAGE
:
Store
Eco-Probiotics Soil Restorer powder in Sealed container. Store contents in a dry and
cool area. Do not expose dry powder to moisture, freezing temperatures or
direct sunlight. ·
Do not store in diluted
form. ·
Not to be taken. ·
Remove fine strainers and filters.
Use nozzles larger than 100um ·
If equipment has previously been
used for pesticide, neutralize with recommended neutralizing agent and triple
rinse. ·
Wash equipment after
use. ·
The user is referred to safety
information contained in Material Safety Data Sheets available from
Eco-Growth.
Application
:
FOR
USE ON : Soil, Plants, shrubs,
seedlings, flowers, vines, orchards, citrus trees, stone fruit, vegetables,
field crops, pasture etc.
General Application
·
Activate microbes** for 48hrs
prior to application (50g/10Litres water best at
30oC with
occasional stirring). ·
Apply at 100ml per square metre or
100ml per 1m high plant ·
Initially drench soil around
plant, & lightly water after 30mins. ·
root or foliar feed every 24 -
30days (25g /10Litres) ·
spray underside of leaves as well
- apply late afternoon
** USE ACTIVATED MICROBES WITHIN 5 DAYS
For specific agricultural applications,
contact Eco-Growth.
Note: The information in
this document is provided to the user in good faith and represents knowledge
of the product and processes at the date of printing. Every care is taken
during manufacture and handling of this product and the preparation of
recommendations pertaining thereto. The manufacturer or their agents accepts
no responsibility for damage arising from misuse or non-adherence to current
recommendations.
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