Compost Tea

Except we're still waiting for scientific proof that it does any of those three things.

I know that everyone on this thread wants to do what's best for plants and trees, but from what I can derive from the descriptions of your treatment protocols, soil is being mechanically aerated, and mulch and teas are being applied, and then any benefit seems to be attributed to the teas.

Scientific studies have demonstrated that just as much or more benefit would be derived by determining the extent to which the soil actually is compacted, and analyzing the soil to see whether in fact there are chemical deficiencies that require mitigation. Assuming these conditions exist, pneumatically decompacting the soil where indicated, amending any deficient minerals and then mulching with compost are proven remedies.

Somebody please put your money where your claims are. Set up a double blind study, with sufficient controls and replicants, and complete transparency and documentation throughout the experiment. Do before and after soil bulk density tests, chemical analysis and microbiotic surveys of samples from the experiments and controls. Then have the findings reviewed and vetted by relevant experts in the field.

Until then, any claims that teas are a scientifically proven beneficial additive, are at best, unsubstantiated.
 
Radial trenching/vertical mulching, done in zones, over time. I don't bother with lawns much though, once the area under the canopy is done, I'll leave the rest to the lawn people.

Lawn guys have specialized aeration equipment for the wide open spaces, I'm told. I try to stay out of the grass, if they'll leave plants with growth-rings alone.

How do you? What empirical evidence do you have to support your claims?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Radial trenching/vertical mulching, done in zones, over time. I don't bother with lawns much though, once the area under the canopy is done, I'll leave the rest to the lawn people.

Lawn guys have specialized aeration equipment for the wide open spaces, I'm told. I try to stay out of the grass, if they'll leave plants with growth-rings alone.

[/ QUOTE ]

Old school. What if you can't mulch to the CRZ? You should shift your thinking if you ever really want to address tree health in the landscape. Face it, you can't talk about tree health without talking about the health of the soil that the tree is growing in. And some of this has grass as well.

[ QUOTE ]
How do you? What empirical evidence do you have to support your claims?

[/ QUOTE ]
My previous post outlined very specifically what we do and why we do it.



Here's an interesting overview of a government investigation into the use of compost tea: www.recycledorganics.com/publications/.../composttea/composttea.pdf
 
KY, I don't know why you get your hackles up so over this. Why don't you turn all that energy toward having somebody do a credible study, something more than a bunch of biased people looking to line their pockets from an unsubstantiated product. If sticking to credible science and proven techniques makes me old school, that's a title I'll proudly accept.

If you ain't got it peer-reviewed.. You ain't got diddly. Period.
 
[ QUOTE ]
KY, I don't know why you get your hackles up so over this. Why don't you turn all that energy toward having somebody do a credible study, something more than a bunch of biased people looking to line their pockets from an unsubstantiated product. If sticking to credible science and proven techniques makes me old school, that's a title I'll proudly accept.

If you ain't got it peer-reviewed.. You ain't got diddly. Period.

[/ QUOTE ]

Correction. We might have diddly. There are few peer review articles for AND against compost tea.

Think of adding ACT as analogous to "overseeding" with good biology. This logic works for me until we get more peer review.

To be honest, I'm not interested in converting you to using ACT. If it is not for you, that's fine. You're obviously a skeptic, and that's fine too.

I'm a skeptic of doing things the way we've been doing them. We have been an industry for 100 years + and still haven't found a way to extend urban tree's lives beyond 20-30% of their natural life expectancy. To me that's a problem.
 
Organic lawns,one of my favorite things,(i apply tea several times a year, on lawns, but for this, post i will not include it to show it is possible with out tea)

step #1
Decompaction can be done several ways, but the best is to use a core airator,(its faster than griding the lawn out with an air knife).

step #2
after core airation is finished go over any thin areas with a slice seeder, once that is done, over seed at 5-7 pounds per 1000 sq ft (or more if needed). One thing we tried this year was to add some endo- mycor in with the seed, our next soil test will show if it worked, i will keep you all posted

step #3
There are several organic herbicides, one is clove oil, which i have used and is very effective so far. and there is a brand new product on the market consisting of a super high concentration of cheleted iron, but i havent tried it yet (anyone have any info on it?)

Step #4
Organic low N fertilizer Such as Organic Approches 9-0-4. apply every 3-4 weeks during the growing season. While on fert visits take a minute to hand pick any weeds or use the organic herbicide

Step #5
in the fall, re-airate (only if needed) and top dress the entire law surface with a 1/2 to 3/4 inches of compost. This step can be done anytime during the season accept the extreamly hot months (july and august for us)


if the lawn as just come off a traditional turf program it may crash at some point during the first year BUT it will look amazing the following year

(((If you want to apply tea to the lawn the best time is in between the 3rd and 4th fert visit.)))

THATS A VERY BASIC ORGANIC TURF PROGRAM anyone have any other ideas?
 
ha ha no i dont need a job right now but if im ever in KY i'll stop by. We just started our organic turf program last year with great results, and the customers love it as well.

one thing i forgot to add is always start with a soil test; NPK, PH and a biological.

any more questions let me know
 
I read through this entire thread because I am doing a shorter paper on this. A paper on the pro's, then on the con's then a wrap up paper on my overall findings and what I think the answer is (taking a side you could say). Just wanted to continue this thread to see if there is any new information that you all know of regarding this topic.

Thanks in advance.
 
Study coming. Heard the researcher talk and the $ will cease to flow from several items. Of course you have the liberty to continue to market whatever treatments you like :).
 
[ QUOTE ]
http://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/depts/NFfield_trials/0404/tea.shtml


an article.

[/ QUOTE ]

A 9 year old agronamy report?
Click on the link. then: Control - F. type in the word "tree".
crazy.gif


If you want something that is actually relevant to arboriculture then give this a listen. http://www.tcia.org/podcasts/dr_smiley_expo_2010.mp3
 
Cliff Notes by Rebecca: Best tree root health=Spread out mulch zone and fert and mycorrhizae and adequate water and pore space are what's needed. Compost tea maybe most helpful in poor soils due to increasing number of microbes in poor environment for microbes. Very interesting talk. Thanks for sharing that link.
 
sorry about old article. however their is continuous research with positive results at Rodale. Elaine Ingram is the lead researcher these days. Stay tuned.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Kask Stihl NORTHEASTERN Arborists Wesspur TreeStuff.com Teufelberger Westminster X-Rigging Teufelberger
Back
Top Bottom