RE: [compost_tea] Re: Vermi tea as foliar fertilizer
Tim;
There is a mountain of literature on foliar feeding. It is the most direct
route to a plant, but only accessible if the chemistry can get through the
epidermal cells. The literature on chemistry that can get chemicals through
the outer layers is also extensive. All the herbicides, insecticides,
fungicides, (at least those that translocate) have to be able to get into
the plant.
SS
From: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com [mailto:compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Tim Wilson
Sent: 18 January 2012 19:31
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Vermi tea as foliar fertilizer
Hi Burkhard;
When I mentioned soluble nutrients I was actually referring to chemical
fertilizers which are already in ionic form. I was not recommending them but
asking what you intended to foliar feed with. There is very little in
soluble form in organics. As stated, I am dubious about the efficacy of
foliar feeding.
There was a powerpoint posted by another member but because it was a sales
pitch it is hardly credible.
If indeed, foliar feeding is an efficient way of providing nutrients, I'm
very interested in reading solid data on the subject. There are attibutes to
spraying certain substances onto plant leaves, including compost tea. Jeff
has already covered this.
I used to spray (back in my chemical days) my plants with chemical
20-20-20 and thought I was feeding them because they all perked up and
looked 'happy' afterwards. Later I learned that they were just responding
(most likely) to the moisture.
I suggest that you feed your soil as Jeff has recommended. You can use fish
hydrolysate, compost tea, humic acid, etc. in liquid form and you can
topdress [vermi]compost (and vermicompost slurries), kelpmeal, alfalfa meal,
etc.
Tim
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com <mailto:compost_tea%40yahoogroups.com> ,
Burkhard Kiehne <burkhardkiehne_at_...> wrote:
>
> Thank you for all your input, especially the one from Tim. It always lets
me see things clearer. To summerize my point again I assume it is a good
idea to prepare the soil with plenty of compost, plant my peppers, tomatoes
etc and leave the soil alone except for weekly sprays with vermi tea. That
leaves me with applying fertilizer over the leaves. There is no vertical
transport involved, so the result should be visible fast. The question is
what will I use for fertilizer? It has to be organic, of course and it
should be soluble as well. Does anybody have experience with that,
preferable PK loaded. How about seaweeds? Will the higher PK content damage
the microbes?
>
Received on Thu Jan 19 2012 - 09:56:05 EST
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: Tue Feb 07 2012 - 13:58:16 EST