Re: [compost_tea] tilling, weeds and compost tea

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 03:58:17 EST

There's tillage and then there's tillage. Rake a little? That can be
considered tillage. Flip the soil with a trowel. Not a detectable impact on
the organisms. Disk, chisel, deep rip. Yep, those are tillage events but
time of year matters alot with respect to harm to the critters. Rototill -
ouch. Easy, but ouch. Imagine all those fungal voices screaming out in
agony as they are shredded.

So, how much do you till? What is the disturbance factor? How much is soil
health improved, not affected, or harmed? It depends.

Till to the minimum disturbance possible to achieve the results you need. As
your soil gets healthier and healthier, there is no need to disturb the soil.
 

But remember, no till means the fungal biomass in the soil with build. If
you are trying to grow an early successional plant, your fungal biomass will
get too great, and so, you will have to till in order to maintain the
conditions in the soil to grow that plant.

It all depends.

Till to the minimum degree necessary. That does not mean never, ever
tilling.

Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
www.soilfoodweb.com



.

Received on Mon Jan 13 2003 - 11:56:27 EST

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