Re: [compost_tea] Re: Univ of Wisconsin-Stevens Point studies on compost teas

From: Neil Bertrando <neilbertrando_at_gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:57:27 -0700

Tim and Steve,

We did what you state without the nutrient testing (i.e. both respiration
and direct microscopy) and also saw no significant results beyond increase
with just humic acid addition.

Our compost came from Soil Food Web Oregon.

We also did larger scale field trials with compost extract at two different
sites with little to no biological response. Used a variety of different
composts, including Cascadian from SFW Oregon.

We hypothesized that it is due to our dry and hot-cold climate but maybe
there is another issue at work here.

We were very excited to use this methodology and have been disappointed wit=
h
the results so far. especially when compared to what is taught at the
classes. We did a lot of advertising about our applications and raised
enthusiasm only to arrive at frustration based on results when compared wit=
h
expectations.

I'd like to see more info from

   - a variety of climates,
   - descriptions of issues with timing and application techniques,
   - irrigated vs. non-irrigated lands,
   - delay between application and system response in a variety of
   successional contexts,
   - applications and results in ecologies where succession does not lead t=
o
   forest systems
   - examples of troubleshooting, what went wrong, how to fix it, and
   ecosystem response

In my opinion, there are two main issues I'd like to see addresses by the
SFW community:


   1. managing expectations: how long it takes, how well it works, economic=
s
   and labor-time break even points: all in various ecosystem contexts (i.e=
.
   soil types, climate types, irrigated vs. non-irrigated, management types=
)
   2. methodological variations: how to apply the SFW system in a variety o=
f
   climate and soil contexts and at various successional stages; from curre=
nt
   state diagnosis to desired state arrival and management.


Neil

On Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 3:33 PM, Tim Wilson <thegoodjob_at_hotmail.com> wrote:

> **
>
>
> Hi Steve,
>
> Thank you. It is too bad they did not look at it from the point of view o=
f
> seeing what microbes are active, apply the ACT and then use both respirat=
ion
> (& nutrient testing) and direct microscopy for evaluation.
>
> Tim
>
>
> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "steved3602002" <steved_at_...> wrote:
> >
> > Last week I attended the ASA, CSSA, SSSA annual
> > meetings in San Antonio where thousands of papers
> > and posters were presented.
> >
> > Three posters from University of Wisconsin-Stevens
> > Point featured research by students on compost teas.
> >
> > ASA, CSSA, SSSA Annual Meetings
> > Oct. 16-19, 2011 in San Antonio, TX
> >
> > 1.
> >
> > 355-11
> > The Effect of Compost Tea Additions On Extractable
> > Soil Nutrients and Microbial Activity
> > Anna Courtney et al
> > UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI
> >
> > HTML Poster Abstract
> > http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2011am/webprogram/Paper66696.html
> >
> > PDF Poster
> > http://tinyurl.com/3mc68bh
> >
> >
> > 2.
> >
> > 355-12
> > Effects of Compost Tea On Soil Microbial Biomass
> > Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus
> > Joel Stokdyk et al
> > UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI
> >
> > HTML Abstract
> > http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2011am/webprogram/Paper66784.html
> >
> > PDF Poster
> > http://tinyurl.com/3l6qobk
> >
> >
> > 3.
> >
> > 355-13
> > The Effects of Compost Tea Applications to Soil
> > on Microbial Activity
> > Evan Roberts et al
> > UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI
> >
> > HTML Abstract
> > http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2011am/webprogram/Paper66115.html
> >
> > PDF Poster
> > http://tinyurl.com/3tadmu4
> >
> > >>>
> >
> > Comments and observations:
> >
> > Based on these trials, very little measurable
> > effects were seen from use of compost teas.
> >
> > They constructd a homemade compost tea brewer.
> > I didn't get details on its design but it seemed
> > workable.
> >
> > They referenced The Compost Tea Brewing Manual
> > by Elaine Ingham as their source of information
> > and guidance.
> >
> > In conversation, they students were enthusiastic
> > about compost teas and put a lot of work into
> > lab, greenhouse, and field research.
> >
> > However, the students didn't have much information
> > on the source of the compost substrate accept
> > that it was obtained from a local compost
> > facility.
> >
> > Likewise, they didn't have any measure of compost
> > quality or compost tea brewing quality in terms
> > of biological parameters, nor did they observe
> > the tea under a microsccope.
> >
> > I would have liked to seen better protocals
> > in their research that paid attention to
> > compost substrate and tea quality, also on
> > spay mixtures that combine teas with organic
> > amendments that serve as microbial foods
> > and stimulants.
> >
> > Have a look and see if you find anything
> > of interest among these poster presentations.
> >
> > Steve Diver
> > Texas
> >
>
>
>


Received on Thu Oct 27 2011 - 00:41:56 EDT

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