[compost_tea] active B

From: Nic Pattison <nicksonstream_at_yahoo.co.nz>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 19:29:55 +1300 (NZDT)

Chris - thanks for your extensive thoughtful response.
 Here are some of the answers to the questions you
posed. Innoculant comprises 4 pts vermicast, 1pt
compost, 1pt 'bush litter'(material collected from
forest floor), 1pt milled mix of oats, barley, wheat
(from biodynamic grower). Moistened with water and a
little Mobiliser (JH Biotech) and placed in breathable
plastic container on heat pad at 20deg C for 3-4 days.
 Additives to brew are Yucca 250gms, Aloe Vera 20gms,
cold pressed fish hydrolisate 2litre, crushed mussel
shell powder 1kg, Humax powder 2kg
(premixed/dissolved), Kelp flour 1.5kg
(premixed/dissolved),1 litre 50/50 fish oil/protein.
2litres molasses added - 500mls start, then 500mls at
hours 4, 7, 10. Start brew with water at 16/17deg C.
(We are blessed with beautiful clean water from the
ground aquifer - it passes all tests with flying
colours - pH however is 8.1)
I remove the basket (s/s with 100 mesh nylon bag) at
hour 5 or 6. Check DO hourly. I believe O2
deprivation has been a problem in previous brews
because it absolutely crashes from #8 to 2 or 3 at
hour 12 to 13 and then recovers to #7 by hour 16/17.
Water temp rises to #20C by hour 6/7 and on to 21/22C
for remainder of 24hr brew depending on ambient. It
is summer here so our typical temps are 10-16C
overnight to 16-34C during the day.
The brewer is best described as grain silo like in
shape - straight sides then taper at bottom. Yes we
do get left with sludge in the bottom - 15 litres by
volume - I could drain this out at intervals thru
bottom tap drain - have not done to date but take your
point.
Chris I am fastidious with cleaning. The air difusers
are removeable and I get in the tank after washing
with water blaster and wipe entire surface with a
cleaning product which is certified for use in food
preparation areas (it is not a bacteriacide or
fungicide and rendered benign on triple rinse with
water). I fill the tank with clean water and add 1
litre liquid chlorine, leave 24 hours and empty.
Refill with water for 24 hrs and empty. Refill with
water until next brew and empty. Brewer is under
cover but sides are open - no UV or sunlight direct
but lots of air movement.
Last brew I got a vacuum cleaner on blow and made up a
pvc pipe with vertical down and 4 horizontal laterals
which i drilled with holes and end-capped. I used the
vac from hour 10 to hour 14 to supplement air but the
test results were not that much different.
For the number nuts results from that test were -:
AB 0.36, Total B Biomas 2385, Active F Biomas 3.14,
Total F Biomass 5.16 (this has been 40+ in previous
tests but did not pre-innoc this one), Hyphal D 3.5
(with lots of 5+seen),Total F to B biomass .002,
Active to totalB Biomass 0.002, Active to Total Fungal
Biomass 0.41, Active to Total B Biomass 0.0001, Active
F to Active B Biomass 8.38.
Wow - small marathon - if detail and specifics are too
boring send me into personal conversation.
Chris Reid - THANKS
Nic

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Received on Thu Jan 22 2004 - 03:06:16 EST

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