compost tea brewing manual

8/9/2019 Compost Tea Brewing Manual

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Compost tea: a brewablefood web for disease

controlMartha Rosemeyer

June 25, 2003

[email protected]


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Outline

Background- what is compost tea?

Organisms involved

Does it work? How does it work?

Future research

Resources

Photo: Seth Book


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What is compost tea?

Water extract of compost that is brewed, ie

fermented (Ingham, E. 2001)

Specifically the organisms are released fromthe compost and increase in number

May be given nutrients to further increase

organisms Used for disease control, as well as a plant

nutrient source


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Not to be

confused with: Manure tea made as a

nutrient source

Photos: Eliot Colemans European tour (Diver 2001)

Plant extracts or

herbal teas for diseasecontrol or plant health,

for example

biodynamic

preparations


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What does compost tea contain?

plant nutrients and humic acids

active bacteria (1 billion to 10 trillion

cfu/ml)

active fungi

protozoa

nematodes

products of microbes that can have

antibiotic propertiesPhoto from: Compost Food Web slide show


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Why compost tea?

Why now?

Increasing societal concern for health and

environment and organic production

Lack of disease control mechanisms fororganic farmers and gardeners

Restricting agrochemicals due to recognized

toxicity, for example FQPA

Organic farmers need control methods that

work within a holistic system


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Organic sales increasing at 20+% per year

Worldwatch Institute. 2000. Why Poison Ourselves.


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Used extensively due to

perceived benefits

Homeowners

Nurseries

Organic crop growers

Golf courses

Organic landscape management

municipal parks and recreation dept

BUT LITTLE RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE

Ingham 2001

Without tea With Tea


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Background

Since 1920s compost water used to soak

seeds for nutrients, prevent disease

Two main approaches

compost extracts = watery fermented compostextract= steepages =non-aerated composttea

(Scheuerell and Mahaffee 2002)

fermented butnotaerated,stirredoccasionally

lower costs,lowerenergy

much research

disease control has beendocumented


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aerated composttea

fermented,aerated

higher costs,energy

littleresearch,somedisease controlreports

Diver 2001


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Benefits of compost tea Nutrient application

Disease control

Foliar disease

Root disease

Inoculation of functioning soil food web


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How to make non-aerobic

compost tea

Mix 1:4-1:10 compost to water in an opencontainer, stir occasionally

At least 3 d at 15-25C (50-70 F)


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How to make Aerobic Compost Tea

Choose compost- well aged

plant based or worm compost

In water (remove chlorine from water)

Add nutrients (optional) like molasses,

humic acids, kelp

Aerate and mix solution for 12 - 24 - 48hours


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Commercial aerobic compost tea

brewers Soil Soup: www.soilsoup.com

Microb Brewer: www.microbbrewer.com

Growing Solutions:

www.growingsolutions.com

Earth Tea Brewer: www.composttea.com

Xtractor:

www.compara.nl/compost_tea_systems.htm

/English


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Soil Soup

www.soilsoup.com


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Microb Brewer

www. microbbrewer.com


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Growing Solutions

www.growingsolutions.com

bubbling

aeration


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What happens in the compost tea

while brewing?? ?


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TESC Student expts:

Scott Chichester and Seth BookChangesin compostteaduring brewing

Preventingdampingoff

ofmarjoram

Photos: Seth Book


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Nitrate

3.2

3.25

3.3

3.35

3.4

3.453.5

3.55

3.6

0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000

Time(seconds)

ppm

Dissolved Oxygen

0123456789

10

0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000 140000 160000 180000

time(seconds)

DO(ppm

ppm

24 hrs

20 hrs

48 hrs

Dissolved Oxygen >5.5 ppm

From: Book and Chichester


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pH > 7.2pH

7.

7.

7.

7.

7.

7.

70000

Ti

Temperature(compost tea solutio

25.3

25.4

25.5

25.6

25.725.8

25.9

26

0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000

Ti

C

From: Book and Chichester


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Food web conceptEverything eats, everything excretes, and

everything is food for something"

Elaine Ingham, 2001

A great resource:

SWCS/NRCS,

Soil Biology Primer


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A functioning food web is

desirable in a compost tea

From: Soil Biology Primer


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Most bacteria (99%) cannot be cultured Direct counts and genetic diversity assessment

Activity of bacteria important

Nutrients can help to wake up to active state

A ton of microscopic bacteria maybe active in each acre of soil.

Bacteria dot the surface of strands

of fungal hyphae.

From:Soil Biology Primer


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Fungus beginning to decompose leaf veins in grass clippings.

Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry Slide Set.

1976. J.P. Martin, et al.,eds. SSSA, Madison WI. From: Soil Biology Primer


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Mycorrhizal fungus

stained blue

Non mycorrhizal

RootsofCommon Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

from Costa Rica

Photo: Rosemeyer


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Mycorrhizalfungi link root cells to soil particles. In this photo, sand grains

are bound to a root by hyphae from endophytes (fungi similar to

mycorrhizae), and bypolysaccharides secreted by the plant and the fungi.

Soil Biology Primer, Credit: Jerry Barrow, USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental

Range, Las Cruces,N

M. From:S

oil Biology Primer


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Actinomycetes, such as this Streptomyces, give soil and compost

its "earthy" smell.

Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry Slide Set. 1976. J.P. Martin,

et al., eds. SSSA, Madison, WIFrom: Soil Biology Primer


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Protozoa: Flagellates have one or two flagella whichthey use to propel or pull their way through soil. A

flagellum can be seen extending from the protozoan

on the left. The tiny specks are bacteria.

Credit: Elaine R. Ingham, Oregon State University

bacteria



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Protozoa: Ciliates are the largest of the protozoa and the leastnumerous. They consume up to ten thousand bacteria per day,

and release plant available nitrogen. Ciliates use the fine cilia along

their bodies like oars to move rapidly through soil Credit: Elaine R.

Ingham, Oregon State University, Corvallis From: Soil Biology Primer


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Interaction

Vampyrellidae attack

fungus take all of

wheat

cysts



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Most nematodes in the soil are not plant parasites.

Beneficial nematodes help control disease and cycle nutrients.

Credit: Elaine R. Ingham, Oregon State University, Corvallis



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Interactions:

N

ematode trapping fungi



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Microbes are ancient! Responsible for all major processes on

earth, including decomposition and

photosysnthesis and nutrient cycling

Major cycles of Earth could continue

without plants and animals

Most are beneficial!


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Video:Life in the Soilproduced by Sakura Motion Picture Co.,

Ltd.[and] MOAProductions;

planned by Nature Farming International

Research Foundation

Atami, Japan


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Do we know what the diversity or

quantity means with respect to disease?

Not entirely

Most soil organisms are unknown!

How does microbial diversity transfer toincreasing function?

If we are mainly interested in disease

prevention then do we know whatmechanism and whether that organism is

involved?

In general more diversity means better

chan e that have the a ro riate or anism


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Minimum standards for compost

tea/mL (Ingham 2001) 10-150 Qg active bacteria,150-300 Qg total

bacteria

2-10 Qg active fungi, 5-20 total fungi

1000 flagellated protozoa

1000 amoebae protozoa

20-50 ciliates protozoa

2-10 beneficial nematodes


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Total population of active

microbes Bacteria minimum 107-1010 (Scheurell and

Mahaffee)

But may not be associated with disease

control, if appropriate agent not present!


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Does it work? NCT- Good evidence under

certain circumstances

Much research with grey mold

(Botrytis cineraria)

Downy mildew of grape(Plasmopara viticola)


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Late blight of potato, tomato

Phytopthora infestansHorse compost extractWeltzein (1990)

Gr y ld b , tr wb rriBotrytis cinerea

C ttl t xtr tW ltz i ( )

Fusarium wiltFusarium oxysporum

Bark-compost extractKai, et al (1990)

Dow y & Powd ry ild w-gr

Plasmopara viticolaUncinula necator

A i l r - tr wompost

xtr tW ltz i ( )

Powdery mildew on cucumbersSphaerotheca fuliginea

Animal manure-straw compostextract

Weltzein (1989)Gr y mold on tomato, pepper Cattle & hi kenmanure ompost

extractGrapemarccompost extractElad, Shtienberg ( )

Apple scabVenturia conidia

S ent mushroom com ost extract

Cronin, Andrews (1996)

Diver, 1998

Evidence ofNCT disease suppression


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Is ACT better thanN

CT? Both ferment well-characterized compost in

water for a period of time, with or without

nutrients Few studies have actually compared the two

NCT has been suggested to cause plant

problems and potentially an environment for

human pathogen growth (Ingham)

According to Scheuerell and Mahaffee, there is

no evidence that phytotoxic symptoms


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Apple scab control using NCT and

ACT manure-based spent mushroom

compost (Cronin et al. 1996) ACT (7 d) vs. NCT (7d)

In vitro effect on germination

of conidia ofVenturia inaequalis,

pathogen of apple scab

NCT reduced conidia germination, not ACT

unless let sit for another 7 days

Apple scab on leaf and fruit


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Pscheidt andWittig 1996,

Willamette Valley ACT used regularly throughout growing

season

No effect on powdery mildew of apple or

grape, apple scab, pear scab, brown rot of

peach, peach leaf curl and cherry leaf spot

Significant reduction of brown rot blossomblight of sweet cherry (Monilia laxa)


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Tests for Disease control of ACTControl of:

Brownrot blossom

blightofsweet

cherry(Monilinialaxa)

No control:

PMofapple,

grape,appleand

pearscab, brownrotofpeach,

peach leafcurl,

cherryleafspot

Reference:

Pscheidtand

Wittig 1996

Lettuce drop, post

harvest fruit ofblueberry

Early blight of

tomato

Granatstein 1999

Powderymildewof

rose(Sphaerotheca

annosa var. rosae

Scheuerelland

Mahaffee 2000


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Disease control with ACTGranatstein 1999

ACT had effects on yield and disease

control

No effect on early blight of tomato

lettuce drop incidence decrease in summer

not spring

Post harvest rot of blueberries significantly

reduced, but reduced yields

Spinach yield decreased, but broccoli spring

and summer increased

no general pattern


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Disease control with ACT

Presidio golf greensDecreased No effect

Microdochium Anthracnose

Conforti et al. 2002


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Bacterial vs. Fungal dominated

teas can be determined by addednutrients (Ingham 2001)

Bacterial: simple sugars to fulvic acids

Fungal: humic acidsHave been difficult for some to produce fungal

dominated teas (Scheuerell and Mahaffee 2002)

Reports reduction of suppression due to nutrientcompetition?

Useful to know nutrients that support

antagonists


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How might compost teas work?

Mechanisms from NCT Prevention of pathogen colonization

due to competition of space or nutrients

direct destruction of pathogen

Antibiosis

Release of antimicrobial compounds

Induced resistance


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Colonization of phylloplane

If 70% of leaf covered by organisms

reduction of disease (Ingham)

60-70% active bacteria and 2-5% active

fungi Various authors

Pseudomonads,

aerobicBacillus,

aerobic spore forming

bacteria with reduction

in powdery mildew

of grape


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Predation NCT: Fusarium

spore rupture Root drench for Fusarium diseases of

pepper and cucumber

Direct destruction on disease-causing spores

Ascospores ofFusarium solani


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Antibiosis: what organisms and

metabolites may be involved?

Bacteria-Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Serrantia

Yeast- Sporobolomyces, Cryptococcus

Fungi- Trichoderma, Gliocladium and

Penicillium

Chemicals involved - phenols, amino acids,low molecular weight non-protein

(sometimes produced by fermentation and

other times already within compost)


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NCT induced resistance to plant

pathogens Powdery mildew of cucurbits

(Sphaerotheca fuliginea)

NCT changed host response to pathogen

papillae (bumps)

necrotic reaction

leaf toughens

(lignification)


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Standards for compost tea

So far only one proposed minimum standards

(Ingham 2001)

oxygen concentration remain above 5.5 ppm or

60% DO [but there is disease suppression in

NCT]

in vitropathogen inhibition [but question as to

whether this reflects field conditions] active bacteria 10-150 g

active fungi 2-10 g

protozoa and nematodes (for soil application)


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Potential to support human pathogens

Appears that despite popular conception,ACT can support human pathogens if

fermented with sugars (2 papers)

If no sugars, including molasses, are used

then neither ACT and NCT appear to be

able to maintain human enteric pathogens

(Escherigia, Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia)

even if contain low levels of pathogens If use worm compost as source appears that

can avoid pathogens

Needs more research


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Summary

Jury still out on NCT vs ACT, bacterial vs.

fungal composts and tea, human pathogen

tests

Good testimonials but variable results

May be due to variability in the compost tea

Know your compost tea feedstocks!

Variability may be due to previous use ofpesticides and fertilizers

Not a panacea but a great tool!


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Future research We are all experimenters!

If possible send sample in for testing: BBC

labs (www.bbclabs.com), Soil FoodWeb Inc.

Need to understand connection between

quantity, specific organisms, food web fordisease suppression

How to support the suppressive organisms

and mechanisms that suppress disease Effect of cropping system-- organic vs.

conventional

DuffW

ilson,F

ateful Harves

t


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Resources

Diver, S. 1998, 2001. www.attra.org

Ingham, E. 2001. Compost Tea Brewing

Manual. Available through: www.soilfoodweb.com

Soil and Water Conservation Society and

NRCS. 2001. Soil Biology Primer. www.swcs.org

Scheurell and Mahaffee. 2002. LiteratureReview: Compost tea: Principles and Prospects

for Disease Control. CompostScience and

Utilization 10(4):313-338


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PNW research experiences

Granatstein, D. 1999. Foliar disease control

using compost teas. CompostConnection

for Western Agriculture 8:1-4

Pscheidt and Wittig. 1996. Fruit and

ornamental disease management testing

program. Ext. Plant Path.OSU Scheuerell, S. 2003.Understanding How

Compost Tea Can Control Disease.

Biocycle44:

20-25


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Photo credits not listed above

Bacteria Credit: Michael T. Holmes,

Oregon State University, Corvallis. From:

Soil Biology Primer

Fungus Credit: R. Campbell. In R.

Campbell. 1985. Plant Microbiology.

Edward Arnold; London. P149. From: SoilBiology Primer


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