Re: [compost_tea] A peculiar question
In a message dated 11/3/2004 12:03:06 PM Pacific Standard Time,
spacecitydx_at_webtv.net writes:
Our question to the below article is if you are applying phosphoric acid and
CO2 (which increases photosynthesis).....
The molarity of phosphoric acid is low in any soft drink. Given the
phosphoric acid is added to a not-concentrated water solution, the acid drops pH. But
that low molarity acid is neutralized fairly rapidly, if consumed and mixed
with other materials. Not what happens when you put dentures in a glass of
soft drink, however......
1. What is the corn syrup and fructose doing to the soil?
These are food resources for bacteria. There will be a bloom of bacterial
growth in direct relation to the amount of soft drink added. More soft drink,
more bacterial growth.
This can serve to tie up excess nitrate, and reduce weed growth. Too much,
however, and you can kill plants by causing a nutrient depletion. It's a
Goldilocks Principle.... not too much, not too little, we need just right. Test
out the concentration needed by testing increasing concentrations of the soft
drink on a field......
2. What fungi would/could develop on the plants as a result?
The sugars are pretty much bacterial foods. If you didn't have any bacteria,
then the sugars would help the less desirable fungi. It is rare indeed to
lack bacteria in soil. So, by growing lots of bacteria, you may select against
fungal recovery. That might be a down side.
If you get too much bacterial growth, however, oxygen might become limiting,
and you'd get loss of N, S, P, etc. But that would require a huge amount of
soft drink.
And spraying on the leaf surfaces means there would be no anaerobic worries.
The phosphoric acid might need to be neutralized a little. Adding water to
the mix should remove that as a concern.
3. Would it attract more beneficial insects?
Hum, don't know about this. Can I send this question to Joe Whaley to see if
he has any ideas?
4. Any idea using this as a foliar spray do to our organic status?
Shouldn't cause a problem, unless the phosphoric acid concentration is
greater than allowed by organic regs. That would be the only thing you would want
to check with your certifier. Otherwise, soft drinks are food grade material,
and generally if people can consume it, then the organic world should regard
it as pretty much being ok. Anyone else have any thoughts?
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 Wed Nov 03 2004 - 22:51:24 EST
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