James;
I would guess that it depends on what was limiting your crop. We mostly
assume that, if your organic carbon levels are low, then any organic
material can help in a number of ways. Mostly this turns out to be moisture
stress during the growing season that is limiting.
If you perceive one of your problems to be that crop residues break down
poorly even with adequate moisture, then I guess one can assume that there
is some benefit to be derived from compost, ACT or AACT. Adding foods may
also be of some benefit. Generally though, soils have a remarkable ability
to recover their biology - provided you don't keep adding biocides in your
spraying program. You can add all the foods you like, adding biocides will
still not allow the biology to recover.
Adding foods may eventually actually lead to problems. I added molasses to
my wheat sprays one year and had unending fungal problems. Beneficial
organisms always seem to be the last to recover.
I see you guessed at some foods that may be in ET products. Other foods that
may be included are MAP and MgSO4 (technical grade) Companies that grow
biology, both bacteria and fungi, tend to add these at the multiplying
stage.
Often though it may be a nutrient problem that is preventing the crop from
achieving its full potential.
SS
From: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com [mailto:compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of jwoenne
Sent: 29 March 2011 14:38
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Best Environmental Technologies?
Julie,
Thanks for the feedback.
I agree entirely. I also suspect it some kind of mix of molasses/humic
acid/fulvic acid/liquid kelp.
I tried it a few years ago without any visible benefit. I suspect it gives
visible benefit with soils that have been hammered by poor farming
practices, i.e., compacted soils with struggling microbiology. But if your
soils are pretty good to start, then there is little benefit.
James
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com <mailto:compost_tea%40yahoogroups.com> ,
"firth_julie" <yilgarn_at_...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hi James,
> I live in Geraldton, Western Australia and went to a tm21 best seminar a
year or so ago and I asked Martin Straper (the presenter and ex csiro
scientist) what was in it and he said " no micro-organisms, just food to
stimulate them." The product is a black thin liquid, my guess is it possibly
a mix of fulvic acid, molasses, kelp etc...
> The actual ingredients are their trade secrets I suppose, otherwise who
would buy it when we can make our own..and they have to pay for their
product, research, marketing etc.. somehow.
>
> Whether it is produces any better results than a liquid bact/and or fungal
food mix to your soil is something you would have to trial.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Kind regards
> Julie Firth
> Drylands Permaculture Research Farm
>
Received on Tue Mar 29 2011 - 12:26:32 EDT