[compost_tea] N Bacteria and Tea
Few Q's here
As I understand it:
Rhizobacter fixes N thru a mutual relationship with plants. Infections are =
initiated and nodules are formed then N can be supplied to the plant. They =
however they cannot fix N until a suitable infection is achieved and is all=
to do with the protein nitrogenase. - correct me if I am wrong.
Azotobacter on the other hand can fix N directly from the air. So in the so=
il when does this N become available to the plant? Is it simply when they d=
ie from natural causes or does it only happen when a predator such as a pro=
tozoa or a nematodes feasts on it?
My reason for asking is in relation to these two critters and compost tea. =
Rhizobacter is not present in compost piles as it needs a host plant to sur=
vive but I'm not sure about Azotobacter.
In a situation where a plant is in need of some N in a hurry, I'm consideri=
ng adding some inocula of azotobacter as a 'bomb' just before applying some=
tea to speed up the nutrient cycling process. With the comment below (cut =
from an article on AZ) is seems heaps of O2 is needed for this guy to be ha=
ppy, so can we presume he will be in a well managed compost or is he only i=
n the soil?
"Azotobacter nitrogenase is oxygen-sensitive, but it is believed that the e=
xtremely high respiration rate of Azotobacter (possibly the highest of any =
living organism) soaks up free oxygen within the cells and protects the nit=
rogenase."
AQ
Received on Sat Apr 10 2004 - 10:41:05 EDT
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