[compost_tea] Re: Vermi tea as foliar fertilizer

From: Tim Wilson <thegoodjob_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:39:26 -0000

Hi Stephen;

Yes it was pretty late and we got a huge snow dump, unusual for the Pacific=
 Northwest. I am snowed in.

In the rhizosphere, as you probably know organic molecules are microbially =
or otherwise transformed into ionic form so as to be uptaken by roots to be=
 internalized by the plant. I do not know that such a system exists on the =
leaf surface. (I am not even clear on if this happens in ionic form. This c=
an be completely due to my ignorance on the subject)

I'd be interested in reading any studies related to the intake of nutrients=
, or other substances via the leaf surface. I am not being flipant at all. =
Please list or link some citations for me, (preferably not just some person=
's hypothesis based on plant vigor).

Tim

--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Steyn" <ssteyn_at_...> wrote:
>
> Tim;
>
> Not organic nutrients, chemistry. Organic chemistry? What are organic
> nutrient molecules? Would you call Fulvic acid an organic nutrient molecu=
le?
> There can be compelling arguments for and against.
>
> Anyways Tim. Shouldn't you be in bed now. Its 9 am here and must be aroun=
d
> midnight where you are. Yesterday the temperature closeby here was 52C wh=
ich
> is probably about 125F. Most of Canada seems to be cold now.
>
>
>
> From: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com [mailto:compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Tim Wilson
> Sent: 19 January 2012 08:44
> To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Vermi tea as foliar fertilizer
>
>
>
>
>
> Organic nutrient molecules? Please provide citations
>
> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com <mailto:compost_tea%40yahoogroups.com>=
 ,
> "Stephen Steyn" <ssteyn_at_> wrote:
> >
> > Tim;
> >
> > There is a mountain of literature on foliar feeding. It is the most dir=
ect
> > 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 in=
to
> > the plant.
> >
> > SS
> >
> >
> >
> > From: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com <mailto:compost_tea%40yahoogroups.com=
>
> [mailto:compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com <mailto:compost_tea%40yahoogroups.com=
> ]
> On
> > Behalf Of Tim Wilson
> > Sent: 18 January 2012 19:31
> > To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com <mailto:compost_tea%40yahoogroups.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 the=
m
> 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 sa=
les
> > 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 attibut=
es
> to
> > spraying certain substances onto plant leaves, including compost tea. J=
eff
> > 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 respondi=
ng
> > (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.co=
m>
> <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 goo=
d
> > 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. T=
hat
> > leaves me with applying fertilizer over the leaves. There is no vertica=
l
> > 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 - 13:21:23 EST

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