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Re: [compost_tea] E. coli re-contamination of compost



Hi Peter-

Thank you for the clarification.   Did Brantlee reference any data to document her point of view? 

The only study I know that says that E. coli can re-contaminate compost was a study done by the USDA where they showed the compost was E. coli free, put the compost on a corn field, and then showed there was E. coli in the field. 

On the basis of that study you cannot say that E.coli will grow in compost. They sort of forgot a really important control in this testing.   It wasn't compost once it was added to the field.  There was no description of the conditions of the soil, but the soil was likely anaerobic and compacted.  If you give E. coli the right conditions, and E. coli was in the soil to begin with (i.e., the soil was not healthy), then unless ou add enough compost to overcome the soil porblems, E. coli will grow. 

Not a test of whether compost can be recontaminated. 

If the "compost" was not actually compost to begin, i.e., it was anaerobic, then "re"-contamination is possible. 

But when we have tested GOOD compost, with all the critters present in it, and added a culture of E. coli at a billion cells per ml of E. coli, we could not detect the E. coli within 24 hours.

If you have a pile of putrefying organic matter, and add an E. coli culture, same numbers, to this "compost", then the E .coli may actually increase in nunbers within the 24 hour period. 

People who do not recognize good compost are really hard to convince about this point. 

Just like if people who have never had good coffee usually remain unconvinced that coffee can be outstanding in flavor.  Until they finally have their senses awoken by consuming good coffee.  Same thing with compost.  But please make certain the compost is good - which means the protozoa, FUNGI, and bacteria, preferably some beneficial nematodes present as well/  

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

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