|
We are excited to offer Compost Tea Application to our services.
Our high quality compost teas are individually cultured based on the needs of your soil and plants. All applications are 100% natural, non toxic, and produce favorable results.
Contact Brian Grubb at 914.485.1078 or send e-mail if you have any questions about our compost tea application service.
Please read more about compost tea and the soil food web.
What is Compost Tea ?
Aerated Compost Tea (ACT) is a liquid extraction of beneficial organisms from compost. It is made by subjecting a sample of compost and nutrient additives to a liquid environment with forced aeration for a period of time sufficient to strip the organisms from the compost and to allow them to proliferate. These organisms are applied immediately to plant surfaces and surrounding soil. These beneficial members of the Soil Food Web will protect them from pests and pathogens, and make nutrients available to plants, and retain more moisture in the soil.
What are the benefits of using Compost Tea ?
Improved Plant Health and Vigor: In the course of nutrient cycling, not only are the major and micronutrients being made available to the plants, but a myriad of other hormones, enzymes, and growth regulators are produced by the food web organisms and are available to the plants. It is common to see a significant increase in crop yield with the use of Compost Tea. There is better retention of nutrients in the biomass of the SFW. Few nutrients are lost. Plant wastes are more readily consumed by SFW organisms making more food available to plants as well as allowing more air and water to the plant roots. With a healthy SFW, there is no need to remove thatch accumulation in turf because the organisms will have already broken it down and recycled the nutrients back to the plant.
Less Incidence of Disease: When a health and robust food web structure is present, pathogens are subdued either by consumption or competition. Many of the diseases prevalent in gardens and agriculture are effectively controlled with the use of compost tea. Even diseases that have no known chemical control like Verticillium Wilt may be subdued through the use of compost tea.
Compost Tea has been shown to effectively subdue many of the most common plant pathogens:
Blackspot, Powdery Mildew, Anthracnose, Cedar Apple Rust, Phytopthera,
Improved Soil Structure: Organisms are responsible for the formation and stability of soil aggregates. Bacteria produce a ‘glue’ to adhere to their feeding sites that bind organic matter into micro-aggregates that allow the movement of air and water around them. Fungal hyphae form a three dimensional ‘net’ that holds the smaller aggregates together into larger structures. The burrows and pathways of worms, nematodes, and arthropods increase the porosity, water holding and infiltration capacity of the soil. When more air and water can penetrate the soil, plant roots go deeper and give the soil extra water holding capacity. Plant health and vigor are improved.
Economic Benefits: Compost Tea is a practical method for applying the biological benefits of the soil food web organisms. Because it is a liquid, it is economical to apply to large areas, and is easily employed into commercial scale agriculture. With a healthy SFW, nutrients that are already present in the soil are now made available to plants. With the use of Compost Tea, it is possible to reduce fertilizer use by 50%. Because there is less incidence of disease, there are fewer requirements for pesticide use. Use of ACT has also shown to provide a crop yield increase of 35% making the soil use more productive and profitable.
Improved Water Quality: Because nutrients must be cycled through a process of immobilization and mineralization, there is not an excess of water soluble nutrient to leach out of the soil. Plant nutrients are available at the rate at which the plants require them, and yet unavailable nutrients are tied up in forms physically and chemically protected from being washed away waiting to be cycled through the metabolism of other members of the SFW. In addition, because there is less incidence of disease in a healthy SFW, there are fewer requirements for pesticides which often wash away and pollute surface and ground water.
Initial Site Analysis and Soil Test
Before applying anything, we examine the soil and plants of the area to be treated. We study the soil’s chemistry, biology, and structure. We perform basic chemical tests as well as a Solvita Soil respiration test to measure biological activity. We also examine structure, organism populations, etc. with the aid of a microscope. We examine the area in question to find out soil types and regional geology. This gives us a good idea of what to expect.
We generally start a project with microbial assay performed by SFI New York, an independent labat a cost of $280.00 http://soilfoodwebnewyork.com/ . It provides detailed and accurate information about the types and populations of soil organisms present in the soil. It shows which organisms are in abundance, and which are lacking. providing a map of the current food web structure of the site. With a picture of both soil chemistry and biology, we are able to develop a startegy for adding the nutrients and organisms for optimal health and function required by the plants in question.
click here to see a sample of SFI NY soil biology test in pdf format
click here to see a sample of SFI NY soil chemistry test in pdf format
   
Compost Tea is made and applied at the cost of $7.00/per gallon.
Various environmental and seasonal conditions change the application rates. Generally, the first application rate will be higher than subsequent application rates.
We custom blend several of our composts and nutrients in specific ratios to the meet the needs of the specific site we are treating. Each site to be treated may have a different combination of soil types and plants and may require different compost tea brews to meet those different needs.
We make compost tea in a brew cycle that lasts from 20-26 hours depending on the starting materials and nutrients. Dissolved oxygen is monitored throughout the brew cycle to ensure quality product. Nutrients are added as required during the brew cycle depending on the needs of the area to be treated. Additionally, organic fertilizers or biological agents may be added to the Compost Tea prior to application. They can provide additional organic matter, nutrients, and beneficial organisms to the soil food web. The nutrient cycling by the micro organisms will feed the plants and improve soil structure.
Compost Tea applied at the rate of 5-20 gallons per acre
The Compost Tea is transported immediately to the site to be treated. The holding time for the finished tea is only several hours. The Compost Tea is applied directly to the plant surfaces and surrounding soil via specially designed apparatus to minimize damage to the organisms.
For more information, send email
|
