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Re: [compost_tea] CT & Septic systems
Lloyd,
About 12 months ago I began developing a compost brewer with the goal of
producing high numbers of active fung, (as we know this is critical to
control leaf and soil disease).
>From the research I have done, information from SFI and others, and
practical experience producing CT I have found the following guidelines to
be useful in producing High fungi CT.
1.Aeration needs to be provided by an air pump not a pump over venturi style
system in order to have fungi multiply in the brew.
2.Bubble size is the critical determinant of efficient oxygen diffusion into
the
water, that is small bubbles are "WAY MORE EFFICIENT" at moving oxygen into
the water.
3.Fungi will tend to grow rapidly in compost bags or screens (given good
numbers in compost plus nutrients, DO and warm water)and are incredibly
efficient at blocking the holes in screens filters etc thus most
extraction will take place in the first 6 to 8 hours (my experience). If you
use a tea bag system agitation of the bag is CRITICAL.
The soil soup machine could easily be improved by adding a blower and
diffusers, agitate the tea bag etc.
The machine I developed consistently grows high active fungi numbers in the
CT. I was able to develop this machine with the help of a consultant,
clients this list serve and the folks at SFI.
Results for New Life Soils CT, testing at SFI Australia, November 2002
These results were obtained from a typical batch. All measurements in
Micrograms per ml.
Total Fungal Biomass 39.9 EXCELLENT
Active Fungal Biomass 13.9 EXCELLENT
Total Bacterial Biomass 233 IN Desired Range
Active Bacterial Biomass 38.7 EXCELLENT
These results show that the tea produced has 2 times the max required fungal
biomass, more than the max active fungal biomass and bacteria within the
range required.
I have sold over 48000 litres of CT using this machine in the past 6 months.
I am now manufacturing machines for sale in Australia, they will produce
high fungi numbers as well as bacteria in the order of the results above.
If you would like more details you could contact me directly.
Regards
Mike Harvey.
New Life Soils, Western Australia.
Ph 08 98514393 Fax 08 98514693.
Email mharvey@westnet.com.au
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lloyd Charles"
>
> However if Ann was using tea from a soil soup machine, as she did and
maybe
> still does, she was only putting bacterial on the field, which is why she
> may have helped it...
>
> How come that with every other brand of tea mchine in North America , by
> varying the nutrients (food) and type of compost used , you can make a
> fungal tea, but not with this one ? What is it about the construction of
> this machine that is so different that its impossible to grow fungi in a
> soil soup machine? I want to build a new brewer for myself and sure as
heck
> dont want to make the mistake these guys did.
> Lloyd Charles
>
>
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