Re: [compost_tea] Re: standard testing procedures

From: Jeff Lowenfels <jeff_at_gardener.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 17:19:04 -0800

Dennis,

Are you looking for tea making standards or testing standards?

I am missing something here. There is lots on SFI's site about how to read =
their tests. Those are the standards for testing compost teas........plate =
counts don't work because you have to have all the foods for all the critte=
rs and that doesn't happen in petri dishes with one single nutrient medium.=
 

There is no home test that anyone has discussed here or in the literature. =
Dr. Elaine is working on one or two or 100 ideas, as are lots of us who wou=
ld love for a home test. Right now you can only test your teas on your plan=
ts or with SFI, IMHO.


That doesn't mean we all wouldn't love you to develop one, and a cheap one =
at that! My strong advice, however, is to send in your teas for a test to =
the SFI lab near you. This is particularly important for those new to makin=
g aerated compost tea. In addition to knowing what you are getting and lear=
ning how to fix it if it is not the best tea is really best for your plants=
 and, as important, best for the aerated compost tea movement: we don't wa=
nt bad teas out there creating horror stories.

Too manhy people on this list haven't tested. For your sake and ours, don't=
 be one of them! It is worth it to know what you are making, especially th=
e first few times. It isn't that expensive.

Cheers and welcome,

Jeff

Old microbiology books probably won't help either. You need a new one! :)





Received on Thu Jul 17 2003 - 01:00:30 EDT

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