ANSWER: At the rates of extraction mentioned here I would not dilute any further to ensure a good inoculation.
I've not collected data to corroborate this hunch, but I expect it is more effective to apply a relatively dense extract to a moist soil rather than trying to drench a dry soil in one go with a greater volume / more diluted extract.
Have you ever tried using an auger drill bit and pouring the extract in the hole to feed the soil around tree roots? Is there a particular commercial inoculant you recommend for this?
I've not yet tried it first hand, but injection of extracts is a common practice for many of my colleagues who provide application services. The injector (or in your case, the auger drill bit) can be very small so as not to damage larger roots. Many of them also practice "vertical mulching" for younger trees where they drill larger holes and backfill them with biologically active compost and biochar.
Even better, but more difficult to find, if you can verify a local craft compost maker - like vermicompost or johnson-su - who can provide biological reports on their product, that'd be a great resource to use for your own extract making!
I hope that's helpful, keep us posted on your approach :)
Hmmm, I would think this could help you feel more confident about organic acid presence which relates to your question about using tap water. If organic acids are present it will result in a darker color / better reading on the microbiometer test giving you some peace of mind!
In theory because a tea is stickier, spraying seeds with a tea or dunking them in a tea is thought to be the best method for seed inoculations. HOWEVER, due to the common problems I see with people accidentally changing the microbiome for the worse via the tea brewing process, I'd still advise most folks to use an extract for seed inoculation.
ANSWER: When using extract for seed treatment, soak for ~1 - 3 minutes, no longer or the seed will take in too much water and may germinate before you're ready for them to.
My thoughts / concerns around water are ever-evolving, most recently since doing a biological assay where I tested the effects tap water had on a biodiverse compost source.
The tap water (Houston, TX) did NOT appear to harm the microbial communities over time in this assay - an encouraging observation! However, we should keep in mind that chloramine can be fixed by humic acid which is created through microbial activity and every excellent compost source will naturally have.
For this reason, it occurred to me that the tap water may have a more harmful effect on an "okay" or poor soil or compost source compared to an excellent, biodiverse soil or compost as the former may not have as much organic acid in it to complex chloramine and other chemicals in the water source.
ANSWER: If you're confident in the biological quality of your compost source, I'd say using tap water for extracts is no problem.
When it comes to irrigating, be it soils or compost, though tap water likely would not be catastrophic, in my experience it certainly does benefit the microbial communities to treat the water lightly with humic acid!
(Copied from the Comments Section of Compost Extracts 101 Post)
Killian: I know with compost teas you generally dilute it. Do you usually do the same with extracts?
ANSWER: At the rates of extraction mentioned here I would not dilute any further to ensure a good inoculation.
I've not collected data to corroborate this hunch, but I expect it is more effective to apply a relatively dense extract to a moist soil rather than trying to drench a dry soil in one go with a greater volume / more diluted extract.
Have you ever tried using an auger drill bit and pouring the extract in the hole to feed the soil around tree roots? Is there a particular commercial inoculant you recommend for this?
I've not yet tried it first hand, but injection of extracts is a common practice for many of my colleagues who provide application services. The injector (or in your case, the auger drill bit) can be very small so as not to damage larger roots. Many of them also practice "vertical mulching" for younger trees where they drill larger holes and backfill them with biologically active compost and biochar.
As for commercial inoculants - are you in the US? If so, the combination of MicroLife Humates and liquids from FishBrew should cover a large suite of beneficial biology. This post has more info on those products and what's in them: https://soilissexy.substack.com/p/practical-tips-diy-soil-health?utm_source=publication-search
Even better, but more difficult to find, if you can verify a local craft compost maker - like vermicompost or johnson-su - who can provide biological reports on their product, that'd be a great resource to use for your own extract making!
I hope that's helpful, keep us posted on your approach :)
Could the microbiometer test kit provide any useful information about the compost before it's added to the water to make the extract?
Hmmm, I would think this could help you feel more confident about organic acid presence which relates to your question about using tap water. If organic acids are present it will result in a darker color / better reading on the microbiometer test giving you some peace of mind!
What's the best way to inoculate seeds before planting?
In theory because a tea is stickier, spraying seeds with a tea or dunking them in a tea is thought to be the best method for seed inoculations. HOWEVER, due to the common problems I see with people accidentally changing the microbiome for the worse via the tea brewing process, I'd still advise most folks to use an extract for seed inoculation.
ANSWER: When using extract for seed treatment, soak for ~1 - 3 minutes, no longer or the seed will take in too much water and may germinate before you're ready for them to.
Is tap water ok?
Could we combine vermicompost and retail store bagged compost for the extract?
Hi Sharon! Great Q's, thanks for submitting them.
My thoughts / concerns around water are ever-evolving, most recently since doing a biological assay where I tested the effects tap water had on a biodiverse compost source.
The tap water (Houston, TX) did NOT appear to harm the microbial communities over time in this assay - an encouraging observation! However, we should keep in mind that chloramine can be fixed by humic acid which is created through microbial activity and every excellent compost source will naturally have.
For this reason, it occurred to me that the tap water may have a more harmful effect on an "okay" or poor soil or compost source compared to an excellent, biodiverse soil or compost as the former may not have as much organic acid in it to complex chloramine and other chemicals in the water source.
ANSWER: If you're confident in the biological quality of your compost source, I'd say using tap water for extracts is no problem.
When it comes to irrigating, be it soils or compost, though tap water likely would not be catastrophic, in my experience it certainly does benefit the microbial communities to treat the water lightly with humic acid!