Re: [compost_tea] aloe vera juice

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 11:30:41 -0400
Hi Mike -

The problem material in the aloe is the sodium benzoate. 

Potassium sorbate is mostly there to absorb water, but chemicals that take away free water means there's nothing for the organisms to "drink".  Still, when you add a few tablespoons of this material to 100 gal of water, for example, that particular interaction should be diluted beyond concern. 

Sodium in the product is probably also significant enough to warrant concern.

So, the question becomes, what is the maximum concentration where dilution is enough to overcome the microbe-killing effect of the preservative? 

There is no standard formula for how much to dilute, although in the years since I took food microbiology, perhaps there has been development of something.  Perhaps Tom J could put his internet delving to a good use and track that question.  I'm just not aware of any formula, maybe there has been one developed.  A check of current literature might be useful.  We would all benefit if we knew a standard dilution amount for various preservatives.

For example, molasses, jams, jellies and syrups are preservatives because of the high sugar concentration.  Sugars tie up free water and therefore prevent microbial growth at high concentration.  To overcome this preservative effect, you dilute it.  How much?  You have to know the sugar content, and then you dilute so the sugar concentration drops below 10% of whatever you are adding it to.  Adding into compost teas, you want to make sure the molasses or sugar content is below 1%.  That's because the microbial growth response will be so high if you use significant sugars concentrations that the brew drops in oxygen concentration and the facultative anaerobes win for a period of time.

The simplest way to assess the correct level is to look at your tea using a 400X, iris at nearly full-stop microscope, and determine the qualitative levels of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes in the brew.  If you want training, come to SFI.  We have a manual about this as well. 

After determining organisms in the tea, then add the right concentration of aloe to part of the tea, mix, let it brew a bit longer, and test again.  Anyone harmed?  Fewer of anything?  If you can see noticably fewer organisms, then the amount of aloe added is too much.  Reduce concentration.  Test again with another portion of the tea brew. 

No visible effect?  Then adding that much aloe probably isn't going to hurt, the dilution of the preservative has been enough. 


You asked:
How effective have compost teas from composts based on neutraceuticals been?   I am thinking of things like, turmeric, vetiver, neem, aloe, etc.?

Neem has been tested, and the teas with neem added have been less effective than the tea without the neem in it.  Replicated data?  No, don't have any, these are occassional, look-see types of observations I am basing this on.  Please take it for what it is worth. 

Neem is a good insecticide, when added as the product alone.  At concentrations high enough to be effective as an insecticide, but added into the tea brew, it kills some organisms.   Other organisms consume the neem as a food resource, and you lose both benefits.  So, do what you need with neem BEFORE spraying compost tea.  Neem is good when you have an outbreak of something, in order to bring the outbreak species back to normal levels.  Then use the tea, which has organisms that break down and consume the neem, as well as teh outbreak species.  You get the field back into a condition of health.

A one-time tea application may not replenish all the organisms, as the neem may still kill some of the beneficials in the tea.  As the critters in teh tea that eat the neem do their job, then the next time or the time after, you may get the full foodweb established. 

But you will likely see some benefit from tea right from the beginning.  Getting some of the beneficials back starts the recovery.  But you need ALL the foodweb back to get all the benefits. 

Back to your question - grin, I can get off on tangents!

Biodynamic plant teas have some very interesting effects, and we are working with biodynamic folks in several parts of the world.  But I will leave it to those people collating the data to add their information to the list.  Not right for me to take their thunder. 

--
Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
SFI Corvallis, OR
SFI Port Jefferson, NY
SFI Lismore, NSW, Australia
SFI Cambridge, New Zealand
SFI Culiacan, Mexico
SFI Jerome, Idaho
SFI South Africa
http://www.soilfoodweb.com


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Received on Mon Oct 11 2004 - 12:05:47 EDT

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