[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: [compost_tea] Bacillus subtilis



Bacillus subtilus gives great results on pathogen inhibition tests done in the lab, but in the real world, it is not effective against fungi in soil, at least in my experience.  

There's a huge difference between what's going on in plate media incubated in the lab and what happens in soil.  

So, Bacillus subtilus cultivars added to your compost or tea might or might not be worth the money.  Actually, what we see is that these Bacillus species ENCOURAGE the growth of beneficial fungi which occupy the space that the disease fungus would otherwise occupy.  Very different mechanism for their impact as compared to what you might think based on lab culture methods.  

Bacillus species (maybe not subtilus) seem to be quite repugnant to insects, so at times, getting an inoculum of Bacillus species into tea has reduced white fly, aphid and leaf hopper feeding on leaves.  

If you want to know if you have the beneficials, do a Beneficial Organism Assay with SFI.  We can assess the presence and enumerate about 20 different beneficial species.  If you are lakcing them, then you need to go buy the inoculum of the species you are missing.  

Most of the time, if you are dealing with a healthy ecosystem, Bacillus subtilus will already be in your compost.  But you could check for sure, or you could just hedge your bets and add it, if the inoculum is inexpensive enough. 

Elaine
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
Corvallis, OR
Port Jefferson, NY
Lismore, NSW, Australia
Hilversum, The Netherlands
www.soilfoodweb.com

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
compost_tea-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 



.