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Re: [compost_tea] Practical Questions
In a message dated 1/22/2003 3:57:02 PM Pacific Standard Time, fscb@yahoo.com writes:
1. When we spray compost as a soil drench or as a
foliar spray, do we need to take out the filters so we
aren't screening out the fungi? (For example, our
farm uses a Fimco 14 gal sprayer, which has 2 pretty
standard sized screens.) Additionally, most of us
generally run anything we are going to spray through
something like a pair of pantyhose, to avoid plugging.
Will this capture the fungi we worked so hard to
grow?
The large size openings on the panty hose should not take out the fungi. Try to make the mesh size of the bag you put the compost into smaller than the nozzle openings on your sprayer. Then there should not be any need to screen.
2. In the Kansas City area, we benefit from the
southern heat and the northern cold, which means that
we'd be brewing compost tea in 100 degrees plus as
well as days that get into the teens. How will this
affect the microorganisms? Can we brew it in the
shade (90s) or will we need to find a cooler spot?
Benefit? :-) The microbes need more sugar in the winter, and none when the temps reach more than 90 degrees. You might want to use a tank heater in the winter, and ice in the summer. Start with cold water in the summer, and warm water in the winter.
3. Elaine mentioned some research that was being done
on e. coli as it moved through the digestive tract of
earthworms. Has anything more been done on this so we
have some research to defend us if/when we get into
trouble with our organic certifying agency for using
vermicompost?
We are doing this research as we speak, and will be presenting it at the B&B/Full Circle annual meeting coming up in Feb. Very interesting results so far!
Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
www.soilfoodweb.com
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