Re: [compost_tea] Farming Nematodes

From: Peter Schmidt <peter_at_compostwerks.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:09:38 -0400

Bacterial feeders are relatively easy to build as Tim had eluded to. The oa=
t
flour method can be very effective numbers wise but may be limiting
diversity wise. However if you wish this scenario I would go for it.

Fungal feeders take more time (several months from my experience). I like t=
o
add woody materials to my thermophilically 'finished' compost coming out of
the winter. It helps to have the compost in forested environment for this.
This is where we are seeing results. Here is an assay;
http://www.compostwerks.com/nematodeinoculum.pdf

This is where we usually see the best diversity in nematodes, predatory,
bacterial and fungal feeders. In this diversity, you'll find a few 'bad
guys' but I have not seen them in numbers that are worrysome.

It would be foolhardy to expect numbers like this from compost tea. If your
soil is that sick, you'll need to fix the problems which caused the problem=
s
in the first place. Most people who buy this compost are using it as an
inoculum in their finished compost. Others make extracts and even fewer try
to make compost tea from this compost.

The system needs to be able to support diversity. There are few
shortcuts.....

On Tue, Jul 26, 2011 at 3:44 PM, Chuck Lund <north32nd_at_yahoo.com> wrote:

> **
>
>
> I was taught to get native protozoa in quantity by taking the crowns of
> field grasses (weeds) from a nearby location and placing them in a bucket=
 of
> rain water over night and then looking at/using the results. I simply
> pulled the crowns out by hand and left on some of the dirt. Most of the
> time I also captured enough nematodes to get a reasonably good count - bu=
t
> no idea here if they were the specific fungal consuming nematodes you are
> looking for?
>
> The technique works well but can go anaerobic rapidly. Some food and
> oxygen may keep it aerobic and provide enough reproduction time to produc=
e
> the quantities you are looking for - if of course you find the kinds of
> nematodes you want to begin with?
>
> If you have a pile of wood chips that is growing good quantities of fungi
> maybe the weeds growing on top of that pile would be a good place to look
> for fungi eating nematodes?
>
> Interesting stuff, for sure...
> Chuck Lund
>
> --- On *Mon, 7/25/11, cpp_rj <cpp_rj_at_yahoo.com>* wrote:
>
>
> From: cpp_rj <cpp_rj_at_yahoo.com>
> Subject: [compost_tea] Farming Nematodes
> To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, July 25, 2011, 10:11 PM
>
>
>
>
> What's a great way to farm nematodes? Shall I say harvest? I know that
> compost can provide nematodes. I'm looking for ways to increase the amoun=
t
> of fungal consuming nematodes in my compost/ tea. Does anyone have a tric=
k
> or site that can cultivate the little ones? Any search on nematodes on th=
e
> internet only provides parasitic nematodes. I know we're all for this, bu=
t
> we're also all for the nutrient cycling... fungal nematodes. We can get i=
nto
> protozoa later... or now
>
> Manik
>
>
>



--
Peter Schmidt
Compostwerks LLC <http://www.compostwerks.com/>
Mobile (914) 837-2364
*Organic Land Care Professional <http://www.organiclandcare.net/> and
Committee Member
ISA Certified Arborist*
*Certified Soil Foodweb Advisor
**Products, Services and Support for Ecological Landcare
*


Received on Wed Jul 27 2011 - 19:04:31 EDT

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