Hi Peter;
Do you mean diversity-wise amongst bacterial feeder species or do you mean =
having several different feeder types? I've noted more than one species of =
bacterial feeders [I think] and there are usually some organic matter feede=
rs in the mix but I did not wish to confuse things by bringing this up. If =
one is going for nutrient cycling, is there an advantage you know of in hav=
ing fungal feeders and generalist predators?
Tim
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, Peter Schmidt <peter_at_...> wrote:
>
> Bacterial feeders are relatively easy to build as Tim had eluded to. The =
oat
> 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=
to
> 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 yo=
ur
> soil is that sick, you'll need to fix the problems which caused the probl=
ems
> 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 t=
ry
> 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_...> 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 buck=
et 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 th=
e
> > time I also captured enough nematodes to get a reasonably good count - =
but
> > no idea here if they were the specific fungal consuming nematodes you a=
re
> > 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 prod=
uce
> > 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 fun=
gi
> > maybe the weeds growing on top of that pile would be a good place to lo=
ok
> > for fungi eating nematodes?
> >
> > Interesting stuff, for sure...
> > Chuck Lund
> >
> > --- On *Mon, 7/25/11, cpp_rj <cpp_rj_at_...>* wrote:
> >
> >
> > From: cpp_rj <cpp_rj_at_...>
> > 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 amo=
unt
> > of fungal consuming nematodes in my compost/ tea. Does anyone have a tr=
ick
> > or site that can cultivate the little ones? Any search on nematodes on =
the
> > internet only provides parasitic nematodes. I know we're all for this, =
but
> > we're also all for the nutrient cycling... fungal nematodes. We can get=
into
> > 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 - 19:04:32 EDT