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Jolly Farmer Products, Inc. Northampton, New Brunswick, Canada
Producers of M I C-A E R O B E TM COMPOST TEA
Compost Tea Production
What is compost tea
History of Compost Tea - Cato “De Agriculturia” - Mendel, cloister gardens carry on tradition - Pfeiffer, leading to Steiner and Biodynamic preps (plant tea; manure tea; extracts, leachates) - CCOF, biodynamic preps, plant teas, aerobic-anaerobic-aerobic compost teas (brewed water extracts) -Karl Rubenberger:
Actively Aerated Compost Tea
Definitions • Actively-Aerated Compost Tea – brewed water extract – Active, total bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes (sp vs #s) – soluble nutrients from the compost – aerobic (O2 above 6 ppm) vs anaerobic (pathogen growth, loss of
nutrients, toxins) – with or without added foods to grow beneficials
• Non-aerated Compost T ea • Compost Extract – no brewing time • Compost L eachate – no brewing, few organisms removed • Plant tea – compost not involved – bacteria, fungi from plant surfaces, aerobic or anaerobic
• Manure tea – compost not involved – anaerobic (pathogens present, 90 to 120 day rule required)
•Put-to-sleep teas – loss of species, minimal activity
A A C T IS N O T • A fertilizer but can provide fertility • A fungicide but can prevent disease • An insecticide but can reduce insect
feeding • A herbicide but can mitigate weed
problems
What is compost? • Aerobic decomposition of a mix of organic matter • Thermal compost: – Heat to 131 F to kill weed seed, pathogens, pests – But NOT HIGHER than 155 – 160 F so beneficials NOT
killed – Turned whenever too hot because too hot means lack of
oxygen, loss of N, S, P, build acidic conditions • Worm or Vermi-compost (cold composting) – Worms turn the compost, kill pathogens, pests
• Static compost
Quality Compost Tea
• Compost (Inoculum, Nutrients) • Aeration, Extraction (Machine) • Foods • Water
Compost
Inoculum & Nutrients Must be of the highest quality!
Compost Ingredients
• We use no animal manures to make compost used for compost tea making.
• No sludge or municipal waste is used • No post consumer garbage is used. • We only use ingredients allowed for certified
organic compost production.
Jolly Farmer’s Compost Facility – Thermal compost
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Temp
eratur
e - C
1 7 1319 2531 374349 55616773 79Day Number
Compost Temperature ChartCompost Batch # 3603 W
Temperature is monitored during the composting process
E A RT H W O R M C AST IN GS Test the levels of biology! Don’t assume all earthworm castings
have good biology.
Soil Foodweb, Inc. Compost Foodweb Analysis555-7 Hallock Ave, Jolly Farmer ProductsPort Jefferson Station, NY 11776 USA Tim LivingstonePhone: (631) 474-8848 56 Crabbe Road Fax: (631) 474-8847 Northampton, NB E7N1R6e-mail: [email protected] Fax: (506) 325-2015
[email protected]: Not IndicatedSample Received: 3/3/2005
Organism Biomass Data Report Sent: 3/21/05Sample Unique Dry Weight Active Total Active Total Total
# ID of 1 gram Bacterial Bacterial Fungal Fungal Hyphal Protozoa NematodeFresh Biomass Biomass Biomass Biomass Diameter Numbers/g Numbers
Material (µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µm) Flagellates Amoebae Ciliates #/g4116 Export Castings (Vermi) 0.25 110 666 96.1 2254 2.75 22,704 546,997 110 381
BoldMeans Low
Desired 0.45 - 15 - 100 - 15 - 100 - (A) 10000 + 10000 + 50 - 20 - Range 0.85 25 3000 25 300 100 30
Immature compost can have activity ranging from 10 to 100%. Mature compost should have activity between 2 to 10%.Fungal activity and biomass depends greatly on the plant being grown. Desired range given here is for a 1:1 compost.A - Hyphal diameter of 2.0 indicates mostly actinomycete hyphae, 2.5 indicates community is mainly ascomycete, typical soil fungi for grasslands, diameters of 3.0 or higher indicate community is dominated by highly beneficial fungi, a Basidiomycete community.Season, moisture, soil and organic matter must be considered in determining optimal foodweb structure.If sample information, such as pesticide, fertilizer tillage, irrigation are not included on the submission form, sender's locale is used.One report is sent to the mailing address on the submission form.All submissions receive free 15 minute consultation, call 1-631-474-8848
Aeration / Extraction Machine & Temperature
Get the biology into the liquid and sustain beneficial microbe growth
with adequate oxygen supply
KIS 5 gallon Brewer Bob’s Bitti and the Bobolator brewers
Low priced homeowner unit. Expected pump life is only 35 12hr. batches
Small commercial duty unit. Will brew up to 30 gallons of compost tea using our compost and nutrients.
Bobolator is a larger com- mercial duty unit. Will brew up to 50 gallons of compost tea or up to 100 gallons with the extra air attachment.
Custom brewer set up in Quebec
Fungi attacked by bacter ia in
anaerobic conditions
Fungal hypha
Bacteria DIC Microscopy;
250X
Same as last picture but stained for active organisms
Epi-fluorescence; 250 X
Fungus
Bacteria
Foods
Need to feed biology to increase the numbers and the potency of the
compost tea.
Water
Very critical to use water that is of good quality and does not contain
harmful chemicals such as chlorine
Other Factors and Considerations
Other factors to be aware of for successful application
Testing • Be sure your compost tea is tested if buying from
a supplier. – Either a full test or a qualitative test
• If making your own, be sure to test it on a regular basis to ensure consistent quality. – Many factors can affect quality
• Compost age • Incorrect compost storage • Residue build up in brewer • Change in water quality
Time of day • Apply compost tea in the morning or evening unless using
an irrigation system with lots of water. – The biology can be killed if exposed to sudden changes in light,
temperature, moisture, etc.
• For a soil application, the ideal time to apply is just before or during a light rain shower.
• For foliar applications, it is important that the compost tea be allowed to dry on the leaves. – An active bacteria can stick to the leaf surface in as little as 15
minutes.
Storage Life • The organisms are living, so must have oxygen • Since they are low on food after the brewing cycle is complete, they don’t need as much oxygen while being stored but still need some.
• Best used as soon as possible up to 5 days maximum. – Organisms will start to prey on each other – Diversity is lost over time – Need to keep aeration going throughout this time
Sprayer/application method
There is a wide range of possible options for application, but you must
make sure biology is not killed.
Poor Choice of Sprayer
Bacteria
Fungi
Protozoa
Bacteria
Fungi
Protozoa
Broadly Vineyard – Tea spraying, August 2001
Applying Compost Tea to a lawn
Fert. CT Control
CT Fert Control
NB site – soil is wetter, heavier, and has more clay
PEI site – soil is sandier, looser, and much more porous.
Girdling Roots...
Equipment Specifications
• Diaphram pump on sprayer is recommended. • 20 – 25 mesh filter on the main filter body of the sprayer. • No filters at the nozzles on the boom • Nozzle with a fairly large size for example
– Blue Flood Jet rated at 1 gpm @ 40 psi. – White Tea Jet rated at 0.8 gpm @ 40 psi. – Call Jolly Farmer for other specific nozzle types that may work
• Low operating pressure – Ideally 15-30 psi. – Maximum of 60 psi.
• Holding tank capable of holding your largest order • Air compressor capable of blowing 1 cfm for every 200 gallons
ordered. Pressure is very low (< 2 psi.) • Aerator for your holding tank – Jolly Farmer can supply for a nominal
cost.
Jolly Farmer Delivery Truck
Customer Provides Storage Tank or your own tea brewer.
MIC AEROBE™ must be kept aerated in storage. Customer supplies the air source. For a nominal cost Jolly Farmer can supply the bubbler necessary to go into the tank. Jolly Farmer can also rent or sell a small compressor to do the job. Maximum recommended storage life is 5 days after it comes out of the brewer.
Compressor
Thoroughly clean sprayer and clean out old residues. Especially important to clean out fungicide residues.
A commercial tank cleaner, Javex, or Vinegar solution
Fill spray tank full and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Put correct amount of tea in tank and then fill with good clean water than is not chlorinated. Near the end of filling and just before going out to the field, add the foods to the tea.
Microbial food added near end.
Need to spray immediately after mixing making sure the spray tank is emptied within 2 hours of the time it is filled. Agitate while spraying to avoid settling.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water after application is complete. Drain spray tank and allow to air dry while in storage. The use of tank cleaners, Javex, or Vinegar is only necessary following fungicide or other toxic spray applications.
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