Re: [compost_tea] Re: necessary to add carbs or sugar after applying a compos...

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 18:11:20 EST

OK, this makes more sense. Thanks for helping me understand your question
better.

The molasses will be used quickly, but about 20% is worked by the bacteria
and fungi (mostly bacteria however) and released as waste material, which is
more complex food resources for other microbes.

The oats are also used, but more slowly, and it may be three to four months
food supply for some microbes. Depends on how much food you added.

The soluble material in the worm compost, which you extract during the tea
making process, also supplies foods. If you make or use a strongly fungal worm
compost, then these foods may last for 4 to 5 months. If you use a strongly
bacterial worm compost, then the foods may last for only a month.

So your source saying the tea doesn't supply enough food MIGHT be correct IF
the worm compost is strongly bacterial (food added to the worm bin is strongly
bacterial).

But the part they have flat incorrect is that the microbes in the soil will
not "take" carbohydrates from the plant. Sorry, most of the organisms in the
soil cannot force the plant to release more sugars, proteins or carbohydrates,
unless they are pathogens, or Rhizobium.

That is not the problem. The problem is if you have rapid microbial growth
in the soil, stimulated by TOO HIGH addition of sugar (molasses for example),
protein (oatmeal, for example), or carbohydrates (flour, plant material, for
example), then when the microbes grow, they take up nitrogen, sulfur,
phosphorus, etc and immobilize it, preventing the plant from getting the nutrients
needed.

Too rapid microbial growth can take up oxygen in the soil, result in
anaerobic conditions, which means alcohol is being produced in the soil, and the plant
will be harmed.

So, to prevent this, make sure you use good compost because then you also add
the protozoa and good-guy nematodes to the system, which eat the bacteria and
fungi, and release the nutrients plants need in the root zone.

So, if you see your plant suffering a slow down in growth, it is not because
you need to add more carbohydrates. That may harm the plant if you don't have
enough protozoa and nematodes. The thing to do would be to add more compost
tea, with perhaps a shot of fish hydrolysate, or kelp with extra organic N in
it.

Because you are exactly right, more tea would solve whatever problem. Just
make sure to add to the tea the materials that will fix whatever visual problem
you might be seeing with the plants.

So, additional kelp, ferric citrate for a low iron condition, fish for N, P,
S, add calcium to the compost pile to make sure you get enough calcium into
the tea. You could use corn gluten (just a little! it goops up in water), with
added N, you could use oatmeal, or alfalfa meal (ground to soluble, ok?) as
both sugars, some fungal food and additional organic N.

Check your local SFI advisor and get their help for specific questions, such
as, "what does it mean that the leaves are purple".....

Hope this helps!

Elaine


> I think I worded my question poorly.
>
> I apply a tea of worm castings, oats and molasses (plus alfalfa meal
> and humics) about every month to the soil in my tomato greenhouse.
>
> Doing only this, I've been told, won't supply a month's worth of
> carbs for the colony and "they" will have to take carbs from the
> tomato plants to survive (even though the sugars in the plants aren't
> ideal.)
> To keep the fungi and bacteria happy, and keep my plants from being
> robbed of carbs (and me of my yield) it's been suggested I add a
> blend of proper carbs about once a week.
>
> I was told the above from a company selling such a blend of carbs.
> Is it sound science or just marketing?
> And/or could I, alternatively, just add some diluted molasses or a
> homemade blend of complex and simple carbs from different sugar
> sources?
>
> Many thanks again to all in here.
> Chuck
>
>





Received on Sat Feb 14 2004 - 19:31:28 EST

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