[compost_tea] Re: Simple is best
so, is there a C/N ratio that could be considered the best
indication of a compost at its "bacterial peak"? and would it differ
whether it is a vermicompost or a compost going through a heating
phase?
this information that you are all giving is excellent and
invaluable. thank you--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "Frank
Teuton" <fteuton_at_s...> wrote:
> Jeff wrote:
>
> "The C:N ratio has nothing to do with maturity, but rather what
kinds of
> material you put in the compost ie green(N) vs brown (C)."
>
> Jeff, I think this is a fundamental mistake. While it is ideal to
start a
> compost pile with a 30-35 to 1 ratio of carbon to nitrogen, as the
pile
> moves through the process, this narrows until finally it levels
off at
> around 10-12 to 1, by which time it is much less biologically
active than it
> was at peak moments in the process.
>
> Of course, you can start with higher or lower levels of C:N. But,
as the
> composting process proceeds, it will tend toward the lower number
of 10-12
> to 1.
>
> Now, because tea makers want high microbial diversity and
activity, it is
> good for us to get compost which has gone much of the way to
maturity, but
> not all the way. Really finished compost is too low in microbial
activity
> for tea purposes.
>
> So, indeed, a too low carbon to nitrogen ratio would indicate a
compost that
> is relatively spent for tea making. You want a younger compost for
> teamaking, especially where bacterial activity is desired. As the
compost
> matures, it will be lower in activity and more fungal in
character, and can
> be used to provide the fungal component to tea making.
>
> Kind of like getting married, something old, something new,
something
> borrowed, and some nematodes, eh? ;-)
>
> Isn't that so?
>
> Frank Teuton
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Received on Sat Dec 18 2004 - 00:53:11 EST
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: Tue Feb 07 2012 - 14:15:39 EST