Re: [compost_tea] Exudates (was: Re: Brassicas and vam fungi)

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2004 14:55:09 EST

It's clear we have a great deal more to learn.

But it does seem clear that trying to grow a plant that needs mycorrhizal
fungi to suppress disease, or to obtain adequate nutrition AFTER you grow a
brassica or cole or kale crop is not a wise idea.

UNLESS you add back a mycorrhizal inoculum.

But, you then have to make sure that you have done something to chew up the
exudates that the brassica may have produced, or the biology that the brassica
may have produced.

The easiest way to do that is to use compost or compost tea to establish the
organisms, and chew up the toxic materials that might be there. Several
applications are typically needed to establish the full diversity, because the
toxics kill lots of the critters with each application, until such time as the
toxics are finally chewed up, and the foodweb can be established.

So start applying the compost or tea in the fall, so the soil is in shape by
spring.

Elaine R. Ingham
Soil Foodweb Inc., Corvallis, Oregon
Soil Foodweb Inc., Port Jefferson, New York
Soil Foodweb Institute, Lismore Australia
Soil Foodweb Institute Cambridge, New Zealand
Laboratorios de Soil Foodweb, Culiacan, Mexico
Soil Foodweb Inc., Jerome, Idaho
Soil Foodweb Inc., South Africa







Received on Mon Nov 01 2004 - 23:17:14 EST

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