Compost tea: a brewable food web for disease control Martha Rosemeyer June 25, 2003 rosemeym@evergreen.edu

Outline Background- what is compost tea? Organisms involved Does it work? How does it work? Future research Resources How to make it- David Bell Photo: Seth Book

What is compost tea? Water extract of compost that is brewed, ie fermented (Ingham, E. 2001) Specifically the organisms are released from the compost and increase in number Nutrients may be added to further increase organisms Used for disease control, as well as a plant nutrient source

Not to be confused with: Plant extracts or herbal teas for disease control or plant health, for example biodynamic preparations Manure tea made as a nutrient source Photos: Eliot Coleman’s European tour (Diver 2001)

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 properties Photo from: Compost Food Web slide show

Why compost tea? Why now? Increasing societal concern for health and environment and organic production Lack of disease control mechanisms for organic farmers and gardeners Restricting agrochemicals due to recognized toxicity, for example FQPA Organic farmers need control methods that work within a holistic system

Organic sales increasing at 20+% per year Currently $22B ww Worldwatch Institute. 2000. Why Poison Ourselves.

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 Without tea With Tea Ingham 2001

Background Since 1920’s compost water used to soak seeds for nutrients, prevent disease Two main approaches compost extracts = watery fermented compost extract= steepages =non-aerated compost tea (Scheuerell and Mahaffee 2002) fermented but not aerated, stirred occasionally lower costs, lower energy much research disease control has been documented

aerated compost tea fermented, aerated higher costs, energy little research, some disease control reports Diver 2001

Benefits of compost tea Nutrient application, lesser Disease control Foliar disease Root disease Inoculation of functioning soil food web

How to make non-aerobic compost tea Mix ratio of compost to water-1:4-1:10 compost to water in an open container, stir occasionally At least 3 days at 15-25°C (50-70 °F)

How to make Aerobic Compost Tea Choose compost- well aged plant based or worm compost In water (remove chlorine from water) Ratio 1 compost:10 water to 1:50 Add nutrients (optional) like molasses, humic acids, kelp Aerate and mix solution for 12 - 24 - 48 hours

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: compara.nl/compost_tea_systems.

Soil Soup www.soilsoup.com

Microb Brewer www. microbbrewer.com

Growing Solutions www.growingsolutions.com bubbling aeration

What happens in the compost tea while brewing? ? ?

TESC Student expts: Scott Chichester and Seth Book Changes in compost tea during brewing Preventing damping off of marjoram Photos: Seth Book

Dissolved Oxygen >5.5 ppm 24 hrs 48 hrs ppm 20 hrs From: Book and Chichester

From: Book and Chichester pH > 7.2 °C From: Book and Chichester

Food web concept ”Everything eats, everything excretes, and everything is food for something" Elaine Ingham, 2001 A great resource: SWCS/NRCS, Soil Biology Primer

A functioning food web is desirable in a compost tea From: Soil Biology Primer

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 may be active in each acre of soil. Bacteria dot the surface of strands of fungal hyphae. From: Soil Biology Primer

From: Soil Biology Primer 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

Mycorrhizal fungus stained blue Non mycorrhizal Roots of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) from Costa Rica Mycorrhizal fungus stained blue Non mycorrhizal Photo: Rosemeyer

Mycorrhizal fungi link root cells to soil particles Mycorrhizal fungi 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, NM. From: Soil Biology Primer

From: Soil Biology Primer 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, WI From: Soil Biology Primer

From: Soil Biology Primer bacteria Protozoa: Flagellates have one or two flagella which they 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 From: Soil Biology Primer

Protozoa: Ciliates are the largest of the protozoa and the least numerous. 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

From: Soil Biology Primer cysts Interaction Vampyrellidae attack fungus “take all” of wheat From: Soil Biology Primer

From: Soil Biology Primer 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 From: Soil Biology Primer

Interactions: Nematode trapping fungi From: Soil Biology Primer

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!

Video: Life in the Soil produced by Sakura Motion Picture Co. , Ltd Video: Life in the Soil produced by Sakura Motion Picture Co., Ltd.[and] MOAProductions; planned by Nature Farming International Research Foundation Atami, Japan

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!

Do we know what the diversity or quantity of microbes means with respect to disease? Not entirely Most soil organisms are unknown! Does microbial diversity increase microbial function? If we are mainly interested in disease prevention then do we know what mechanism and whether that organism is involved? In general more diversity means better change that have the appropriate organism

Does it work? NCT- Good evidence under certain circumstances Much research with grey mold (Botrytis cineraria) Downy mildew of grape (Plasmopara viticola)

Evidence of NCT disease suppression Diver, 1998

Is ACT better than NCT? 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

Apple scab on leaf and fruit Apple scab control using NCT but not ACT manure-based spent mushroom compost (Cronin et al. 1996) ACT (7 d) vs. NCT (7d) In vitro effect on germination of conidia of Venturia inaequalis, pathogen of apple scab NCT reduced conidia germination, not ACT unless let sit for another 7 days Apple scab on leaf and fruit

Powdery mildew of rose (Scheurell and Mahaffee 2000) Three sources of compost ACT commercial preparation vs. 7-day NCT All equal results on powdery mildew of rose (Sphaerotheca pannosa) within source of compost Authors concluded that source of compost more important than ACT or NCT

Pscheidt and Wittig 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 blossom blight of sweet cherry (Monilia laxa)

Tests for Disease control of ACT

Disease control with ACT Granatstein 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

Disease control with ACT Presidio golf greens Decreased No effect Microdochium Anthracnose Conforti et al. 2002

Bacterial vs. fungal dominated teas can be determined by added nutrients (Ingham 2001) Bacterial- use simple sugars to fulvic acids Fungal- use humic acids Have been difficult for some to produce fungal dominated teas (Scheuerell and Mahaffee 2002) Reports on reduction of suppression due to nutrient competition? Useful to know nutrients that support antagonists

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

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, aerobic Bacillus, aerobic spore forming bacteria with reduction in powdery mildew of grape

Predation NCT: Fusarium spore rupture Root drench for Fusarium diseases of pepper and cucumber Direct destruction on disease-causing spores Ascospores of Fusarium solani

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)

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)

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 vitro pathogen inhibition [but question as to whether this reflects field conditions]

Minimum standards for compost tea/mL (Ingham 2001) 10-150 g active bacteria,150-300 g total bacteria 2-10 g active fungi, 5-20 total fungi 1000 flagellated protozoa 1000 amoeba-type protozoa 20-50 ciliates protozoa 2-10 beneficial nematodes (soil drench)

How to test? Send compost tea to Soil Food Web (direct counts) BBC Labs, Vicki Bess Need to correlate counts to field performance

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 (Escherichia, Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia) even if contain low levels of pathogens If use worm compost as source appears that can avoid pathogens Needs more research

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 due to compost quality, fermentation nutrients, fermentation time and specific microbial antagonists Variability may also be due to previous use of pesticides and fertilizers

Important to understand how compost tea production and application interact with the pathogen’s biology, put your plan into practice and carefully observe results Not a panacea but a great tool!

Future research We are all experimenters! If possible send sample in for testing: BBC labs (www.bbclabs.com), Soil Food Web Inc. Need to understand connection between quantity, specific organisms, food web for disease suppression How to support the suppressive organisms and mechanisms that suppress disease, add biocontrol agents Effect of cropping system-- organic vs. conventional --Duff Wilson, Fateful Harvest

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. Literature Review: Compost tea: Principles and Prospects for Disease Control. Compost Science and Utilization 10(4):313-338 Brinton, W.F. et al. 1996. Investigations into liquid compost extracts. Biocycle 37:68-70

PNW research experiences Granatstein, D. 1999. Foliar disease control using compost teas. Compost Connection 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. Biocycle 44: 20-25

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: Soil Biology Primer

From: Growing Solutions website