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[compost_tea] Nematodes



Dear Elaine etc,

I searched the net re reproduction times for Nematodes, I found the following.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/LH053 Life Cycle and Reproduction

Plant parasitic nematodes have a fairly simple life cycle which has six stages: the egg, four juvenile stages, and adult. Inside the egg, the embryo develops into the first stage juvenile. The first stage juvenile molts inside the eggshell to become a second-stage juvenile, which hatches from the egg, and in most species, must feed before continuing to develop. The nematode molts three more times to become a fully developed adult.

The length of the life cycle varies considerably with each species, its host plant, and the temperature of its habitat. Rates of activity, growth, and reproduction increase as soil temperature rises, from about 50°F (10°C) to about 90°F (32°C). Minimum generation time is about 4 weeks for many nematodes under optimum conditions (about 81°F or 27°C for many nematodes).

The number of eggs deposited by a female varies among species and is affected by the habitat. Most species produce between 50 and 500 eggs, but a few sometimes produce several thousand eggs per female. Eggs of some species can survive without hatching for years but hatch quickly when a host plant grows near them.

(This is another site with info on nematodes if anyone is interested. http://www.marchbiological.com/L/beneficial_nematodes.html)

My question is what is the reproduction time for the beneficial nematodes and will they multiply in the CT?
 In light of the above info it seems unlikely that reproduction time would be under 24 hours (the usual CT cycle). Thus it is unlikely that beneficial Nematodes will reproduce in CT?? Thus if you are using large brewers (3000litre-600gal, as I am) it would seem unlikely that you would get sufficient numbers of Beneficial Nematodes extracted from the compost if you only use say  50 pounds of compost (containing B Nematodes).
This will depend on numbers of nematodes in  the compost of course and how good your extraction is.
This is of particular interest to me since I have been told that wheat fields where we will be using the CT have root feeding Nematodes I would like to be able to inoculate the field with Predatory Nematodes (as well as Fungi Bacteria etc).
It would seem to me that we will need to make sure we use enough compost in the CT to get the high numbers of Beneficial Nematodes since they will not reproduce in the CT (unlike Fungi which will multiply in the CT)?? With the  particular system I  use it is not a problem  to deal with 150kg (say 300pounds) of compost per batch. 
Thoughts on the matter would be of great help.
Thanks for your response on the issue of Strike Rust I have contacted Bruce Elliot and am waiting for a reply.
Regards Mike Harvey.
New Life Soils, West Aus.
 

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