Organic soil and fungus gnat solutions...

[Oregonism]

I was fed up with Neem, burning the crap out of everything, maybe some strains aren't just cut out for it?

I went back to using a fermented habanero/sage concoction. I use about 1 0z to a gallon + a few drops of Dr Brauns liquid soap.

I also use DE, freakin love it, I do give it to dog and chickens, and I mulch cover all of my soil in my pots with shredded and chopped newspaper, sprinkled with the DE and periodic sprayings, works like a charm.

You can even spray DE as well, I wouldn't use it as a foliar unless last resort, but a soil drench would be acceptable.

 

[The Hummus Monk]

Neem meal. 1 tsp per litre of soil. Also is a complete feed but heavy on N.

 

[soil margin]

Neem meal as a soil amendment combined with soil predators/competitors and targeted use of BT has worked well for me.

Making sure your compost is fully done and your soil well cured will go a long way in preventing population blooms.

I know what finished compost looks like, what is soil curing though? I'm only familiar with curing buds.

 

[EclipseFour20]

BTW--as growing mediums "cure" (aka decompose) nitrogen may be consumed--rather than become 100% available. Amount of nitrogen consumption depends on the type of amendments added; not referring to "green manure"--rather things like kelp meal, alfalfa meal, blood meal, soybean meal, etc.

From Table 1 (see attached pdf file): Percent of Plant Available Nitrogen AND Percent of Carbon (decomposition) at 28 days:
Seaweed Extract: 0%, 38%
Kelp Meal: -6%, 14%
Alfalfa Meal: 4%, 48%
Ground Fish Bone: 33%, 33%
Blood Meal: 63%, 59%
Soybean Meal: 68%, 69%

Comparing Kelp Meal and Seaweed Extract at 28 days, Kelp meal consumed more nitrogen while decomposing 14%--Seaweed Extract consumed little to zero nitrogen and decomposed 38% (over twice as much).

Something to chew on...Cheers!

 

[Oregonism]

BTW--as growing mediums "cure" (aka decompose) nitrogen may be consumed--rather than become 100% available.

See Sig.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]N2→ NH4+ → NO2- → NO3- [/FONT]

 

[EclipseFour20]

Oregonism...the nitrification process is rather uniform for most organic products, but not all mediums are equal...which was the point I attempted to make.

Referring Table 1 in the pdf file--as a fertilizer, Kelp Meal is about 1% Nitrogen (NPK) and Blood Meal 14%. But at the 28 day interval, of Kelp Meal's Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) of 1%--only -6% (negative 6%) of the 1% was available...or put differently it consumed nitrogen.

Whereas at day 28, Blood Meal's PAN of 14%, only 63% of the 14% was available...or said differently, it produced nitrogen.

The paper concluded that most specialty products greater than 6% Nitrogen will release about 60% PAN in 28 days and 75% in 70 days...allowing one to use 28 day figures (60%) to estimate PAN % at 70 days (75%).

Realize, both the Kelp Meal and Blood Meal went through the same nitrification process...but one consumed PAN--and one provided PAN.

Not all things are equal...neither are NPK #s.

Cheers!

 

[Oregonism]

^agree

Just pointing out the formula of why what you are describing, is happening. Conversion of ammonia to nitrite is the biggest limiting factor in the nitrogen cycle.

-I am almost convinced that a key "result", is the ability of bacteria/yeast/actinomycetes that, "inhabit" certain materials, that they are controllers of sorts, for decay rates.
-A better situation of my example is comparing Kelp meal vs. straw.
They will take different lengths to break down because the process needs different organisms to affect the chemical process needed to get both to nitrates. They both follow the nitrogen cycle in a linear fashion [for the most part], but what affects that rate? Strictly nitrifying bacteria/microlife?


....hopefully Im not smoking too much and just babbling stating the obvious. I agree and was only trying to elaborate the N cycle.

 

[EclipseFour20]

LOL how true. Most people do not realize that bacteria can "produce NPK" as well--hence that secret ingredient in my sig...Raw Milk--best food for the microherd (among other things!)

 

[Oregonism]

and as far as NPK ratio's, I see them being problematic in at least two ways. The first being an incomplete list. Sure they include 60% of your macro's and as a fan of Jenny/Albrecht, the NPK ratio is discouraged, in at least how its current "status quo" exists,...so why not Expand the Ratio, include Ca and S.
2nd, no knows or explains how the ratios work to begin with. That's also a crutch, because the "organic" has to turn to Inorganic for plant assimilation, people are idly aware of this concept, if at all.

 

[TanzanianMagic]

As a preventative, put your soil in a closed black binliner and put them out in the sun. That will kill most if not all bugs.

Then re-inoculate your soil with compost or worm tea.

 

[EclipseFour20]

and as far as NPK ratio's, I see them being problematic in at least two ways. The first being an incomplete list. Sure they include 60% of your macro's and as a fan of Jenny/Albrecht, the NPK ratio is discouraged, in at least how its current "status quo" exists,...so why not Expand the Ratio, include Ca and S.
2nd, no knows or explains how the ratios work to begin with. That's also a crutch, because the "organic" has to turn to Inorganic for plant assimilation, people are idly aware of this concept, if at all.

Ahh the great dilemma, which minerals/elements do we track? Just the essential ones (16 or so)...or do we include the beneficial ones (now there are 24 or so)...or do we include all the earth's elements (which number around 97 or so)?

Me...I try to mimic nature, so I use all 97 of earth's minerals/elements and adjust my formulation to prevent an overabundance of any one element.

My "NPK" does not come "concentrated" in a bottle--rather I blend my own fertility...and happily pay less than $2 a pound for it. How much is that bottle in the window? The one with the cartoon character on its label?...$25?...$100? For kicks and giggles, calculate how many pounds of "NPK" a single bottle of "liquid nutes" can mix...not even close to $2 a pound.

And yes...I use a spreadsheet to calculate the numbers/ratios of all 97 elements in my fertility mix...and to help determine the "timing" to deliver said nutrition.

IMHO, best ratio analysis available--is your own.

Cheers!

Sorry OP for getting off topic!

 

[Carbon.Chains]

Me...I try to mimic nature, so I use all 97 of earth's minerals/elements and adjust my formulation to prevent an overabundance of any one element.

And yes...I use a spreadsheet to calculate the numbers/ratios of all 97 elements in my fertility mix...and to help determine the "timing" to deliver said nutrition.

Hey EclipseFour20,

I've actually been meaning to ask a few questions about that post of yours for a few days, I wanted to PM you about it but my post count is too low, and it just hit me that I could just search through your posts.

I wondered what minerals or other sources you're using to mimic nature and have these 97 elements. I'm trying to diversify my mineral sources for I doubt that basalt, granite, shale, gypsum, and volcanic ashes suffice.

Maybe if it's not too much to ask you could share your spreadsheet or your fertility mix/entire soil mix?

I hope you haven't already shared those somewhere; I couldn't find them.

As I said my post count is too low for PMs, I apologize for getting off-topic; I'm unsure as to if I should've started a new thread or not.

Sorry again,

C-C

 

[EclipseFour20]

Hey EclipseFour20,

I've actually been meaning to ask a few questions about that post of yours for a few days, I wanted to PM you about it but my post count is too low, and it just hit me that I could just search through your posts.

I wondered what minerals or other sources you're using to mimic nature and have these 97 elements. I'm trying to diversify my mineral sources for I doubt that basalt, granite, shale, gypsum, and volcanic ashes suffice.

Maybe if it's not too much to ask you could share your spreadsheet or your fertility mix/entire soil mix?

I hope you haven't already shared those somewhere; I couldn't find them.

As I said my post count is too low for PMs, I apologize for getting off-topic; I'm unsure as to if I should've started a new thread or not.

Sorry again,

C-C

Sorry, just saw your post.

I include all the naturally forming elements (around 90 or so)--including gold, silver & titanium, plus another 7-10 exotic ones. It is water soluble, approved for "organic growing" and OMRI labeled. Yep, it is "sea minerals" and the product I use is Sea90.

The aggregates in my custom growing medium include:
Bark
ProMixBx
Compost
EWC
Perlite
Vermiculite
Calcined Clay
Fossils Shell Flour

I use 4 liming agents, make my own fertility blend, and charge the soil before transplanting (pre-moisten).

Cheers!

 

[vapor]

loves milk as foliar! keeps the pm away!

 

[Jack Harer]

I'd love to see this system you have. I've been doing the same thing on a cruder scale. I;m having a bitch of a time quantifying ingredients.