can one make a concentrated ewc tea and dilute?

[xmobotx]

oh; i get it ~kinda doubt he meant it to be deprecating~ but i can see where it may seem 'snarky' in faceless text on anonymous screen

the fact that you are pursuing compost tea and organics is admirable and i respect that too

kind of sounds like we have all the sand out now

 

[SpicySativa]

Yeah, man. We're all on the same team.

I've been organic for several years now, and getting more involved with brewing and experimenting with teas for about the last year or so. I've still got lots to learn, but I'm more than happy with my results.

OP- How much liquid do you think you might need to moisten your 12 yards of soil? If it were me, I'd probably split that soil into batches, then treat each one with a diluted 5-gallon batch. Sure it'll be a little less effective than full strength, but better than nothing...

 

[Weird]

I prefer to prewater with plain water and then add tea afterwards

ive used plain ewc and water to soak roots of distressed plants and they respond quickly and profoundly

healthy plants don't reflect the benefit because they already have a healthy rhizoshpere

 

[Microbeman]

Anyone who has used compost tea successfully = any grower whom has observed the actual direct benefits of using the extraction and multiplication of soil microorganisms which has been 'goofily' [sic] named compost tea. Those benefits are the microbial cycling of nutrients called the microbial nutrient loop (Bonkowski, Clareholm, Griffiths, etc) and/or the suppression of microbial pathogens.

If one has observed this successful application over a garden bed of say 8' X 12' or a room full of containers, then they will, or should, have a pretty good understanding that 5 gallons is barely enough to have optimum or fully functional results. They should be able to then extrapolate this understanding to the extent necessary to conclude that 5 gallons applied over a one acre area would or should have minimal positive results in relation to their experience.

In my own practice, we typically do not dilute compost tea (CT). Suppose one was looking at a sample in a 200X field of view (FOV) and saw 2 flagellates. If one equates this to a laboratory count it reads about 13,000 flagellates per ml or per cc or per gram. This is considered in the high scale by certain labs. I consider it on the low side, as I like to see at least 4 but up to 20 flagellates in the 200X FOV. What is important though, is the ratio of flagellates (and/or naked amoebae) to bacteria/archaea. If I see 4 flagellates, then optimally I'll see a ratio representative of 40,000 bacteria/archaea and so one.

If one dilutes CT then every equal dilution rate (e.g. 1:1) cuts your microbial population in half and if your dilution water is a different temperature or of inferior quality you present another challenge to the microbial population you have worked hard to bring to fruition. Tropical fish owners will appreciate this point. It really is not the same as diluting fish hydrolysate or kelp or alfalfa tea.

I did a while ago dilute some CT for the heck of it and observed that I did not lose as many organisms as anticipated. It appeared, considering dilution rate that we only killed about 10 to 15% but we were relatively careful to equalize water temperature.

What we have preferred to do in practice is begin with a slightly moist soil surface, apply the CT over the area, as far as it will go, followed by plain water if the plants/soil require it. {It is good to give the organisms 20 minutes or so to unpack their luggage before adding water.} ;>

We used 1200 gallons of non-diluted CT over a 24' x 64' greenhouse and a bunch of outdoor garden beds. Taxing my old feeble mind, they comprised approximately 8' x 400'

 

[Weird]

i wonder MM if when i prewater and then apply tea afterwards do the microbes simply travel through the water and dilute or do they stay on the surface?

I mostly do this to avoid tea run off (why waste) I don't do it to minimize the use of the tea either. I use amended soils and try to use my "teas" proactively to keep microbe populations healthy and don't expect healthy plants to go beyond their genetic disposition and since they work so well on distressed plants I never questioned the efficiency of how I apply them.

Just curious if you have had experience with the converse of your method and any information that may prove helpful.

thanks in advance

 

[Microbeman]

I'm sure they scatter every which way through the moisture encapsulated in the soil. One can put soil on a microscope slide and watch this 'half-assed' but it would be a trip if one could actually see into the soil to observe what happens.

I started building a scope to facilitate something like this but shame on me I have not persisted with this project as I should have.

Damn survival gets in the way of fun and research eh?

[surrogate wife/lab partner wanted]

 

[Weird]

it would be interesting to see how microbes distribute in the earth

Old traditional texts say microbes inhabit mostly the topsoil but I wonder how accurate it is, are microbes drawn to certain layers of soil for air/water balance, gravity or a myriad of other potential reasons? from what I understand science is just scratching the surface (pardon the pun)

I bet the soil is as diverse and complex an ecosystem as the ones above it that's for sure

thanks for the response

 

[SpicySativa]

Microbes are just about everywhere. Bioremediation is the a technique of providing native soil bacteria the right conditions and nutrients to degrade contaminants (gas, diesel, PCE, TCE, etc). This takes place anywhere from just under the surface to hundreds of feet below the surface. Bacteria of one type of another are in just about any soil, shallow or deep.

Doesn't exactly translate to CT given to a plant in a container... But I think it's pretty fascinating.

 

[Microbeman]

it would be interesting to see how microbes distribute in the earth

Old traditional texts say microbes inhabit mostly the topsoil but I wonder how accurate it is, are microbes drawn to certain layers of soil for air/water balance, gravity or a myriad of other potential reasons? from what I understand science is just scratching the surface (pardon the pun)

I bet the soil is as diverse and complex an ecosystem as the ones above it that's for sure

thanks for the response

I've written a short narrative on this subject. I may post it

 

[Weird]

that would be awesome, seriously awesome

 

[al-k-mist]

View image in gallery​

1200 gallons for a 24 x 65 greenhouse, MM???
The one on the left is 20 X 60 and will hold 18 plants in 150 gallon homemade smarties, along with a 1x1x60 raised bed along the N and S walls. (incedently, those are roll-up walls, for flowering time)
how much aereation, just out of curiosity? we also have gardens and an orchard(and indoor), and a couple 1500 gallon water tanks, so maybe its not so unfeasable, except the cost of aereating that? can i borrow your super pump? (just kidding)

 

[Microbeman]

1200 gallons for a 24 x 65 greenhouse, MM???

greenhouse + outdoor beds
95 CFM pump; 4 airlifts - 12 diffusers

 

[al-k-mist]

whoa...those pumps are in excess of 2k.
a bit rich for my blood this year

 

[OrganicOzarks]

Buy this pump
http://www.amazon.com/EcoPlus-Commercial-Hydroponic-Aquarium-Pump/dp/B004LP1586

Use a 32 gallon trash can from a big box store, and build an air lift out of 1.5" PVC. This will cost you about $200 total if you shop around for the pump.

Do a brew everyday until you feel like you applied enough tea. Between brews clean with peroxide, and a scrub brush. Then rinse with water, and start another brew.

I had one of these I built to play with, and it worked great. I got great bacteria diversity, and numbers, and many many protozoa from it. All in all it made great teas.

You can't bitch about the price of this set up either.