[compost_tea] Re: Alaska Humus

From: Tim Wilson <thegoodjob_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:19:34 -0000

Hi Patricia,

My take: In substances like the Alaska humus and Canadian Sphagnum peat mos=
s, the material has aerobically decomposed to a degree and then had the dec=
omposition stopped (and sometimes started again off and on) by being submer=
ged in water and/or frozen. When this decomposition is halted the aerobic m=
icroorganisms form cysts and other stages of dormancy. In this state many m=
icrobes can remain viable indefinitely. When the substance is harvested and=
 exposed to oxygen the organisms come to life again, feeding on the high le=
vels of carbon and if you use it in soil or provide feedstock (like molasse=
s in compost tea) the microbes multiply even more.

Tim

--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "burnhampatricia_at_..." <patriciaburnham@=
...> wrote:
>
> question- if Alaska Humus is from ancient humus deposits, does this mean =
the organisms are also ancient?
> sorry if this is a dumb question... but doesn't make sense to me how one =
would grow active bacteria, protozoa and fungi from such a material.
> Your help is appreciated
> Patricia Burnham
>




Received on Sat Jan 22 2011 - 11:55:26 EST

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