What is stated on SFI lab forms; (It states you should have between 20 and =
50 per ml. ciliates. It could be argued that this is around 2 avg per slide=
but it depends on the size of your drop) But I still want to know what dat=
a of mine you are referring to.
I guess I pretty much stated my take on them. Why on earth would a certain =
number of ciliates be a problem (in ACT) so long as they are not huge in nu=
mber. They are aerobic organisms (mostly in soil but there are anaerobic ve=
rsions of all three types of protozoa) and they eat bacteria and poop nitro=
gen They can be indicators of anaerobic conditions (especially in soil) but=
if a DO2 meter states otherwise, go with the meter. I've had people tell m=
e they were taught at a microscope class that ciliates are anaerobes. I thi=
nk they misunderstood(?)
>From SFI website:
"When ciliates are high, but flagellates and amoebae are also high suggests=
that one of three things may be happening:
1. The sample has just become compacted, or flooded, and the anaerobic cond=
itions have just been initiated. Generally the number of ciliates is not ex=
tremely high.
2. The sample has aggregates, which are anaerobic inside the aggregates. Th=
e high ciliate signal comes from the internal parts of those aggregates whe=
re anaerobic conditions exist, but outside those aggregates, aerobic condit=
ions exist, and thus flagellate and amoebae numbers are typically high as w=
ell. Both anaerobes and aerobes co-exist, but in very different places with=
in the spatial structure of this sample. This is very typical of good worm =
compost, particularly worm compost high in castings."
Note that they seem to concurr with my statement on vermicompost.
Tim
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, ezentrix_at_... wrote:
>
> Hiya Tim
>
> My question related to somewhere else. "Qualitative Assessment of
> Microorganisms" Ingham and Rollins 2009, p8 Categories of Qualitativ=
e
> Assessment #3, Protozoa - specifically, only flagellates and
> amoebae.....................Ciliates should never be greater in number th=
an one or two on
> the entire slide."
>
> Same book p9 "Ciliates should never be in greater number than one per dr=
op"
>
> I'm very interested in your take on ciliate numbers.
>
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> Richard Jennings, Designer
> Earthwrights Designs / Dirtwrights Technologies
> 30 Camino Sudeste
> Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508
> USA
> Phone: (1 505 ) 986 1719
> _www.earthwrights.com_ (http://www.earthwrights.com)
>
>
>
>
> In a message dated 12/28/2011 2:03:29 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
> thegoodjob_at_... writes:
>
> Hi Richard,
>
>
> So where is the major disagreement, perhaps somewhere else.
> Tim
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> Richard Jennings, Designer
> Earthwrights Designs / Dirtwrights Technologies
> 30 Camino Sudeste
> Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508
> USA
> Phone: (1 505 ) 986 1719
> www.earthwrights.com
>
Received on Thu Dec 29 2011 - 23:12:32 EST