[compost_tea] Re: Sawdust in compost tea

From: dblsixteenout <jseegert_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2011 04:02:02 -0000

If you are purchasing granulated chicken manure, they might be able to give=
 you the rough percentage of N. If they cannot provide a more accurate val=
ue, rough numbers for pelleted chicken manure are 2-4% nitrogen. so if you =
have 25 lbs of pellets, you will have about .5-1.0 lbs of nitrogen.

If you are looking for other free sources of N and potassium, try planting =
some Russian Comfrey (Symphytum uplandicum). This is the type of comfrey t=
hat will not grow out of control and will easily propagate from trimmings o=
r root cuttings. Harvest the leaves, layer and cover them in the compost p=
ile. The leaves decompose very quickly releasing liquid nutrients which mak=
es it great for use in ACT compost. You can cut the whole plant in the fall=
 and as long as you don't remove the tap root, it will continue to grow bac=
k. Mulching comfrey with grass clippings and other green waste assures a hi=
gh growth rate and good levels of nitrogen in the leaves. The advantage of =
using comfrey leaves over other yards waste is its ease in decomposition an=
d the low C:N ratio.



--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, Cameron Jenkins <milkman_at_...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the information, it's appreciated. I'm a hobbyist, so I don't =
have access to a microscope at this stage, but it looks like I might do it =
just to satisfy the curiosity factor and for the fact that there's really n=
o other way to verify if your teas have the required bacterial/fungal make =
up that was desired when making the tea in the first place. I've been using=
 my nose up until this stage, I guess that's a primitive form of a microsco=
pe without eyes? ;)
>
> In regards to boosting N, what would your thoughts be around adding some =
composted chicken manure to the vericompost + sawdust? I'm fine with the sa=
wdust I'm using, it's marketed as worm bedding from the mill I buy it from,=
 cheap too. I usually top dress my lawn with composted chicken manure in gr=
anular form, so I wonder if adding some of this, which apparently also cont=
ains some seaweed and humic acid, will be beneficial.
>
> From: dblsixteenout <jseegert_at_...>
> Sent: Mon, 7/3/2011 4:12am
> To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Sawdust in compost tea
>
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> It is generally acceptable to use sawdust and wood chips as a compo=
nent of compost. However, care should be taken when choosing the wood sour=
ce. First and foremost, never use black walnut since this tree emits a chem=
ical that will prohibit plant growth. This is a type of defense against we=
ed and cover growth inhibiting sapling growth. The other type of wood that=
 should be limited is oak or other woods containing high levels of tannins.=
  These tend to contain tannic acid and if used in higher quantities will r=
aise the pH of the compost resulting in detrimental effects on the microorg=
anisms. Most of us don't have access to oleander but this also emits a dea=
dly toxin that should not be used around gardens intended for human consump=
tion. Also, plywood sawdust should be steered clear of since the chemicals =
that are used in the resins are typically not intended for human consumptio=
n.
>
>
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> Wood fiber is high in carbon (200:1 C:N) content and is best used as topi=
cal application (10 tonnes/acre or about 4.5 lbs per 100 square foot) but w=
ill definitely lock up a good portion of Nitrogen in the compost since the =
type of organisms that break down cellulose will also demand Nitrogen. If =
using wood fiber in compost, you must add about 14 oz of blood meal (_at_11% N=
) or 2 lb of a 5% N granular product per 20lbs of wood fiber to offset the =
amount of N used to compost it (this is equivalent to about 10 lbs of N per=
 tonne of sawdust). One good source of N to add with sawdust is poultry man=
ure. This is a great way to "cool" down this type of waste.
>
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> Another option is to boost the level of N before adding the sawdust by ad=
ding food sources to the worm pile that results in a compost that contains =
enough N for the cellulose consuming organisms and allows for an adequate l=
evel of N left after the sawdust is decomposed.
>
>
>
> If you are going to use this sawdust mixed compost for ACT without adding=
 any additional Nitrogen source, remember that making a bacterial based ACT=
 utilizing sawdust blended compost will continue to consume any nitrogen fr=
om the compost. Allowing the mix to run longer to propagate a significant l=
evel of bacterial organisms to feed the protozoa and other N-producing orga=
nisms, will allow the bacteria consuming organisms to resupply the levels o=
f available/free N as a byproduct. In other words the propagation of Bacte=
ria is dependent upon the consumption of available/free N in your compost. =
 Allowing significant levels of bacteria to develop will allow the protozoa=
 and other N generating organisms to increase in numbers. This allows the o=
rganisms breaking down the cellulose a source of N but should also leave en=
ough availble/free N for an effective tea.
>
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> The process is dependent upon the types of compost, additives and times o=
f brewing but can easily be confirmed by microscopic evaluation (making sur=
e there are high levels of bacteria at first and then protozoa).
>
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> If your intent is only to allow the vermicompost to be easily handled, re=
member that any compost will easily dissolve in the brewer regardless of it=
s consistency and how it is added. It sounds like there might be a concern =
with storing the "wet" vermicompost until it can be used for ACT (possibly =
turning anaerobic). Consider allowing the soil to sit in an open container =
or spread it out until the desired moisture content is satisfactory for sto=
rage.
>
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> Also, wood fiber will take longer to compost 6 months - 1 year depending =
on the size of the wood fiber
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Received on Mon Mar 07 2011 - 00:40:40 EST

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