Re: [compost_tea] How to add inorganic nutrients

From: Ted Peterson <ted.peterson_at_tcsn.net>
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2003 22:28:48 -0800

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: soilfoodweb_at_aol.com
  To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 9:14 PM
  Subject: Re: [compost_tea] How to add inorganic nutrients


  The problem with adding inorganic nutrients is that they are all, pretty =
much, salts.


Elaine:

Good post. We have been working to develop a salt-tolerant compost. We ha=
ve been developing this compost for a couple of years to try to get a biolo=
gy in the soil that will allow the plants to select for higher salt levels =
found in soil that has had a heavy nitrate input or relies on recycled wast=
e treatment water that is also high in salts. We don't think we can solve =
the salt problem (other than drenching with pure or distilled water which s=
tarts a whole different set of problems) in the water. Even if a given sit=
uation gets RO water, the output is softened and the prime ingredient of so=
ftened water is salt.

I approached a municipality with a proposal to save water by rebuilding the=
ir soil structure and was told that they actually have too much water. The=
y have to dump quite a bit. So I asked them why their parks looked like ga=
rbage. They said one word: salt. They get salt build up in the soil even =
without inputs.

I personally think TDS will be one of the biggest problems confronting ag i=
n the near future and it is already a problem now. As more and more areas =
start using recycled waste water, we will see a whole new set of problems. =
 Most are recycling tertiary treated water but even this allows for a highe=
r TDS than drinking water.

Now, recycled waste water is a fact. I expect to see more and more use. A=
s it stands now in CA. New golf course construction can only be approved i=
f the main source of irrigation is recycled water. The days of massive amo=
unts of potable water being used for irrigation on public lands are nearing=
 an end. All the parks in San Luis Obispo are converting to recycled water=
. Luckily, we locked them into a contract early so we can get the soil pre=
pared BEFORE they start using the waste water.

Ted Peterson
Earth-Wise/Spirit of the Earth
(805) 534-9605



Received on Tue Dec 16 2003 - 10:44:54 EST

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