Does Compost Tea Work? Part 2 Fertilizer, Beneficial Bacteria and Big Vegetables

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 https://youtu.be/ivGdHo1sXF4 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? https://youtu.be/DaCVoCnzav8 Testing Garden Assumptions Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5mfR-r4BXH3UTGH_3UAG6cB8NnlO8M1U Supporting Material: [1] Is Rain Water Safe to Use in the Garden? https://youtu.be/zu6FZYbqCc0 [2] Kelp fertiliser and amendments in Organic Gardening https://youtu.be/enhH7iWesCE [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 http://puyallup.wsu.edu/lcs/ [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