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RE: [compost_tea] Vegetable quality



Lloyd,

 

Suggest that the first step (1) of your test is to take a Brix reading of

the crop you’re testing, and THEN spray, and next take your second

brix readings. If I remember correctly, the plant’s brix number will rise within

say 30 minutes, to indicate whether or not the material you just sprayed has a benefit to the plant.

 

In the same vein, if the brix falls, the indication is not to use that spray on

that plant. It’s my understanding that this is done as a test to determine if the plant needs what you put in your sprayer.  You can come back and spray the plant again later trying a different solution, and again, the brix numbers will give you an indication. It’s just as though you and the plant are in “conversation.”

 

From what I remember, I don’t believe brix numbers following the test remain high (or low) for an extended period of time. It takes more time than you’ve given to expect plant brix to increase suddenly and stabilize from a spritz test. And I have no doubts about our mental state being important in our fields, gardens, and elsewhere. In the hopes of maintaining mine, I like to think I impart good energy or vibes in my garden and my garden returns that to me a hundred fold.

 

But in keeping with the topic of the science that we’re interested in,

I suggest anyone interested ask these questions of Rex Harrill.  He can be reached by e-mail at: brixman@erols.com and ask him exactly, “what is going on here???”  I think we could all use a touch more laughter and we’ve all  been brushed with a little bit of madness.

 

Judi

 

>

Hi Allan

This should sit quite ok with BD folks (its nothing more complex than us all

praying for your foot) but it might cause some of the CT people to choke on

their lunch

I'll describe what happens then leave you to ponder

 My testing proceedure as follows

1. spray several different test bottle brews (usually four) on a square

meter of crop about 5 meters apart so no crossover effect - always spray in

line with the seeder travel so no distortion due to seeding rate, depth, or

fertiliser quantity (still using a little non acid starter down the tube)

2. 30 to 45 minutes later come back to test results with refractometer

3.  I do one untreated test at one end then test each plot then another

untreated at the other end of the plots, if the untreated readings are not

reasonably consistent with one another I would probably abandon that set and

start again. Hey I'm trying to do this properly you know!

4 . Usually there would be one or sometimes two brews with nicely elevated

brix on the first test, so, ever sceptical,  I got into the habit of going

back to remeasure these - just checking to see that I didnt read the

instrument wrong etc.

5 .  Invariably this retest would be "flat" - brix about inline with the

untreated control plot - and the more I did this the more consistently that

was so - I got the poops with this in the end and still have in my field

notebook where I circled the results and wrote in big angry letters " what

is going on here???" . I rang John Pannan shortly after and described it -

like I have here - his reply, quite bemused was " what did you ring me up

for ? you just answered the question" - this was three years ago and I was

quite anxious about what I was doing - it wouldnt happen now. But I pay

attention to my mental state when I am doing these things and if you hear me

chatting quietly to no one in particular as I do the refractometer tests

dont laugh ! there's a good reason for it.

So thats my bit of madness for the week !. I leave you with the best wishes

of a fellow saggitarian for a speedy recovery of your foot.

Cheers

Lloyd Charles

 

 

 

 

 


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