Re: [compost_tea] too much N
Cheers:
Two pennies worth from me too.
The process our mushroom growers use is firstly straw and cow manure compos=
ted for about 8 weeks. Then the compost is steamed to sanitise it. I would =
guess 70 degrees C (say 160F) for three days. They told me but I cannot rec=
all exactly. Then they place it in trays, add mushroom spores and a week la=
ter they harvest the first mushrooms. This carries on for about 7 weeks, un=
til the nutrients are exhausted from the compost, and then the compost is d=
iscarded. Some composters use this exhausted compost as part of the feedsto=
ck to make compost again. Some sell it as compost as is. My opinion is that=
it is pretty much exhausted of the nutrients the mushrooms extracted. This=
could be verified by a normal assay from an Ag lab for nutrients. A foodwe=
b lab would be able to verify the biology and probably the nutrients too.
If you cannot be bothered to have the assay done or your supplier cannot pr=
ovide it then rather get a different compost supplier.
If you just want to increase the water holding capacity of low humus soil, =
then it may have a use. Adding vermiculite to the soil may give identical r=
esults.
It may also tie up some nitrogen if it is not completely decomposed - but I=
doubt it as it has been in ideal decomposing conditions for 4 months alrea=
dy. 'nuff said.
Steve Steyn
On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 06:39:12 +1000, Scott Alexander <daylily_at_bigpond.com>=
wrote:
> > For years, he has been using mushroom "compost" as the basis for the =
soil
> in
> > his raised vegetable beds in an urban setting.
>
>
Received on Wed Mar 16 2005 - 22:10:59 EST
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