[compost_tea] Re: Farming Nematodes

From: cpp_rj <cpp_rj_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:59:16 -0000

Essentially what I'm after with this question... I have a client who has tu=
rf. The soil which he's growing has a compaction layer (nearly concrete) a=
t 8 inches below. He's growing on a very clayey material. He's also been ba=
gging his grass clippings, removing the carbon from his turf.

I'm convinced, and reinforced by SFI, that the bacterial numbers are far to=
o high for his plants. The fungi are dormant, but there. Nematode numbers=
 are low, and 6% mycorrhizal colonization. There needs to be an increase of=
 carbon in his turf, either through leaving the grass clippings, importing =
compost or a couple inoculations of tea and humates. The goal here is to w=
ake up the fungi, who are dormant from the lack of food. But within this, =
the quickest route to seeing results is to have the fungal nematodes start =
the cycling. Bacterial as well... but they're already there. Unfortunetly=
, I haven't had my tea tested for biological activity, so I don't know what=
 we're applying. I do know the SFI assay of all the compost we're using. =
And the other issue that I have to deal with on a daily basis... is not bei=
ng able to feed my tea much, as I'm at 7,000 feet above sea level. I do ch=
eck for dissolved o2, and have consistant positive readings.

I'd love to go out to the woods, where the mushrooms thrive, and essentiall=
y take samples of the soil for inoculating our compost. This has its own i=
ssues, but could be a good way to do it. I've heard of the bucket idea, fr=
om Elaine... but it's almost essentially the same as just adding the hay to=
 tea, keeping it aerobic of course.

Thanks for all your responses, I'm glad to see we all are so passionate abo=
ut this feild.

Manik



Received on Wed Jul 27 2011 - 19:04:42 EDT

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