Two weeks ago I set up an experiment in the testing garden assumptions series to evaluate if both Actively Aerated Compost Tea and Compost Extractions lived up to their main claims. Primarily I looked at if they had potential as a fertilizer and then if the methods allowed you to increase the concentration of bacteria within it.
The two claims I took a look at are not the only ones made by advocates of compost tea. Today I will investigate the other claims made about compost teas before making a decision at the end of this video if I am going to continue or abandon the practice in my garden.
Does Compost Tea Work? Part 1
0:36 What about commercial Compost Teas?
1:14 Why culture bacteria using a compost tea method?
1:29 Research refuting the benefits of compost tea.
3:44 The Scientific Method and Occam’s Razor
4:34 I have been using AACT and have seen improvements.
5:02 Does compost tea to poor soil improves it
5:41 Is compost tea good to initially inoculate new soils?
6:17 What about the giant plants people show when they use compost tea
7:17 What about the benefits Foliar Application of Compost Tea
7:23 Can you fertilize your plants using foliar application of compost tea?
8:10 What about claims made about compost tea fighting disease?
9:00 In limited soil areas like containers is there value?
9:27 Summary and Findings
Check us out on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AlbertaUrbanGarden/
Related Videos:Is Epsom Salt useful in Organic Gardening?
Testing Garden Assumptions Series Playlist:
Supporting Material:
[1] Is Rain Water Safe to Use in the Garden?
[2] Kelp fertiliser and amendments in Organic Gardening
[3] Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott’s resource paper on foliar application
http://puyallup.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/foliar-feeding.pdf
[4] Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott’s resource paper on Compost Tea’s Pesticide use
http://puyallup.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/compost-tea.pdf
[5] Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott’s resource papers
[6] University of Kentucky
http://organic.kysu.edu/CompostTea.pdf
[7] Occam’s Razor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor
[8] Variability Associated with Suppression of Gray Mold (Botrytis cinerea) on Geranium by Foliar Applications of Nonaerated and Aerated Compost Teas http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1094/PD-90-1201
[9] Failure of Foliar-Applied Biostimulants to Enhance Drought and Salt Tolerance in Urban Trees.
http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid=fc9a8c17-1488-40b2-9ad2-dca34f534594%40sessionmgr4003&vid=0&hid=4205&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d&preview=false#AN=94717424&db=eih
[10] Garden Professors Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GardenProfessors/
[11] Garden Professors Blog
http://gardenprofessors.com/
[12] Petri Dish Free to use on google search March 17th 2016
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Agar_plate_with_colonies.jpg
Comments are closed.