Re: [compost_tea] Re: quantities ?

From: soilfoodweb@aol.com
Date: Mon Jan 13 2003 - 03:30:57 EST


The amount of compost per volume of water is non-linear. The more water, the
less compost is needed.

So, there's a bacterial tea machine maker that has told people that their 100
gal machine needs 100 lbs of compost. Phew! They must be selling compost!
There should be no reason, at all, that much compost is required.

The relationship between amount of compost and volume of water does have alot
to do with the machine design. A really poorly designed machine is going to
take a great deal more compost than a well-designed machine. Which maybe
says something about the machine in the above example - it is a really poor
design.

So, weight of compost per volume of water in decent COMPOST tea machines -

About a pound of compost for 5 gal of water, 7 lbs for 25 gal, 10 lbs for 50
gal, 12 lbs for 100 gal, 15 - 20 lbs for 500 gal

Now, the amount of molasses, kelp etc needs to relate to the needs of your
plants.

Kelp is put in to provide surface area for the fungi, AND for nutrients for
the plant. So, what amount of nutrient does the plant need? Amount added to
the tea ought to be relative to that need. Fungi just need a small amount of
surface area - an ounce in 5 gal, for example. So, the nutrient needs of the
plant should be assessed to figure out the kelp amount.

Molasses amount relates more to the machine - how good is the machine at
keeping things aerated? In the Growing Solutions machine, for example, NO
MOLASSES at all should be used. Or it grows E. coli. Well, maybe it grows
E. coli with the addition of just about anything.

But most tea machine makers have done TESTING to determine what recipe
results in good tea. If they have the numbers, then they have the recipe
worked out. Ask your machine maker for the recipe. Or do a little testing
yourself.

Make a tea - goes smelly? Too much food for the organisms. Tea seems good?
Put it in a sealed plastic container 1/2 full for 24 hours in a warm place.
Smell ok? then send a sample in to see if you have the bacteria and fungi,
maybe protozoa.

Then you know your recipe is right. Or you get to try some more....

Hope this helps -

Elaine
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
www.soilfoodweb.com



.



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Wed Apr 23 2003 - 16:57:39 EDT