[compost_tea] Re: Farming Nematodes

From: Tim Wilson <thegoodjob_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:19:25 -0000

Here is a bit of reading on nematodes in relation to nutrient cycling.

http://plpnemweb.ucdavis.edu/Nemaplex/Ecology/fertil.htm

http://plpnemweb.ucdavis.edu/Nemaplex/Ecology/acepap.htm

and what is life without a fine song?
http://plpnemweb.ucdavis.edu/Nemaplex/Ecology/foodwebs.htm

Tim

--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "cpp_rj" <cpp_rj_at_...> wrote:
>
> Essentially what I'm after with this question... I have a client who has =
turf. The soil which he's growing has a compaction layer (nearly concrete)=
 at 8 inches below. He's growing on a very clayey material. He's also been =
bagging his grass clippings, removing the carbon from his turf.
>
> I'm convinced, and reinforced by SFI, that the bacterial numbers are far =
too high for his plants. The fungi are dormant, but there. Nematode numbe=
rs are low, and 6% mycorrhizal colonization. There needs to be an increase =
of carbon in his turf, either through leaving the grass clippings, importin=
g compost or a couple inoculations of tea and humates. The goal here is to=
 wake 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 star=
t the cycling. Bacterial as well... but they're already there. Unfortunet=
ly, I haven't had my tea tested for biological activity, so I don't know wh=
at 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 b=
eing able to feed my tea much, as I'm at 7,000 feet above sea level. I do =
check for dissolved o2, and have consistant positive readings.
>
> I'd love to go out to the woods, where the mushrooms thrive, and essentia=
lly take samples of the soil for inoculating our compost. This has its own=
 issues, but could be a good way to do it. I've heard of the bucket idea, =
from 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 a=
bout this feild.
>
> Manik
>




Received on Wed Jul 27 2011 - 19:04:53 EDT

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