Hi Neil,
Great of you to reply.
What was the level of microbial activity using direct microscopy of your gr=
owing media pre-application of ACT or controls?
When you observed the ACT pre-application what was the basic volume of whic=
h organisms that you saw?
At what durations of time did you take soils sample post-application for di=
rect microscopy and what organism activity did you observe?
Tim
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, Neil Bertrando <neilbertrando_at_...> wrot=
e:
>
> 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 increas=
e
> 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 differe=
nt
> 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 w=
ith
> 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 w=
ith
> 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=
to
> 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, econom=
ics
> and labor-time break even points: all in various ecosystem contexts (i=
.e.
> soil types, climate types, irrigated vs. non-irrigated, management typ=
es)
> 2. methodological variations: how to apply the SFW system in a variety=
of
> climate and soil contexts and at various successional stages; from cur=
rent
> state diagnosis to desired state arrival and management.
>
>
> Neil
>
> On Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 3:33 PM, Tim Wilson <thegoodjob_at_...> wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > Hi Steve,
> >
> > Thank you. It is too bad they did not look at it from the point of view=
of
> > seeing what microbes are active, apply the ACT and then use both respir=
ation
> > (& 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 - 12:51:01 EDT