Download Compost Tea, Powdery Mildew and Pumpkins - Team

Compost Tea,
Powdery Mildew and Pumpkins
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Data researched
Field Trail conducted
Conclusions presented here
*Research was entirely self-funded.
By: Matthew DeBacco
http://www.hr.uconn.edu/signa2.gi
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Compost Tea
Research
The following publications
were used as a starting point...
Compost Tea Study

Scheuerell, S.J. and Mahaffee, W.F. 2006. Variability associated with
suppression of gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) on geranium by foliar
applications of nonaerated compost teas. Plant Dis. 90:1201-1208
Shows the effect of milk on Powdery Mildew
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Ferrandino, F.J. and Smith, V.L. 2006. The effect of milk-based foliar
sprays on yield components of field pumpkins with powdery mildew.
Crop Protection Vol. 26 Issue 4 pg. 657-663
Photo taken by Matthew
Compost Tea
Research
More sources of background info.
3 year Compost Tea Study
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Hepperly, P.R. et al. 2007. Compost Tea for Disease management in
Horticultural Crops. Northeast SARE Research and Education Grant.
Plant-Microbe Interactions
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Ramey, B.E. et al. 2004. Biofilm formation in plant-microbe associations.
Current Opinion in Microbiology 7:602-609
Milk and Powdery Mildew
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Bettiol, W.; Astiarraga, B.D.; Luiz, A.J.B. Efectiveness of cow's milk
against zucchini squash powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) in
greenhouse conditions. Crop Protection, Guildford, v.18, n.8, p.489-492,
1999.
Photo taken by Matthew
Consistency is Key
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Make sure at the beginning of the season
there are enough materials to last for the
entire growing season.
The first brew should be as close as possible
in biological make-up to the last brew.
Components to the Tea:
Materials
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Water (dechlorinated)
Quality compost
Food for the microbes
Brewers used
Water
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Make sure to dechlorinate it!!
Photo taken by Matthew
Quality Compost
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Make sure you select a good source.
Yard waste can be inconsistent.
Suggested Sources:
 Alaskan Humus
 Worm Castings
Photo taken by Matthew
Food for Microbes
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Wide variety of food = wide variety of microbes
Two types of brewers were used
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Passively Aerated
(ex. SoilSoup)
Actively Aerated
(ex. Keep-It-Simple)
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http://www.simplici-tea.com/images/brewer_5gal.jpg
http://www.renegadegardener.com/images/1031awardproduct.jpg
Types of Aeration
Passively Aerated
(Stirring the water)
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Actively Aerated
(Adding air to the water)
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Specifics:
Water
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My town does not add
chloramine to the water, only
chlorine.
So, the water was allowed to
sit overnight and/or aerated
prior to brewing to remove
chlorine.
Photo taken by Matthew
DeBacco
Quality Compost
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Alaskan Humus or Worm Castings suggested
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I decided to do a 50/50 mix of the above.
Photos taken by Matthew
Tea Bags
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Alaskan Humus / Worm
Casting mix was added to
a 1 gal. nylon paint strainer
and secured shut with an
elastic band.
Photo taken by Matthew
DeBacco
Food for the Microbes
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Since I wanted a wide variety of microbes,
I selected a variety of food.
SoilSoup Nutrient Solution
Joel Holland's Kelp
Organic Gem Fish Emulsion
TurfPro
Methods
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Experiment layout
Recipe
Length of brews
Timing of applications
How the brews were applied
The way the data was collected
Experiment layout
5 Treatment Groups
1. Control, no treatment
2. Compost Tea (active) and 40% milk
3. Compost Tea (active) and Serenade MAX + 40% milk
4. Compost Tea (passive) and 40% milk
5. Chemical control (fungicide)
Why 40% milk?
Photo taken by Matthew
DeBacco
BETTIOL, W.; ASTIARRAGA, B.D.; LUIZ, A.J.B. Efectiveness of cow's milk against zucchini squash powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca
fuliginea) in greenhouse conditions. Crop Protection, Guildford, v.18, n.8, p.489-492, 1999.
Standard Compost Tea
Recipe
Actively and Passively Aerated Brews
 Compost:
0.8 oz. per gallon Alaskan Humus
0.8 oz. per gallon Worm Castings
Nutrients:
1oz. per gallon SoilSoup Nutrient solution
0.5 tsp per gallon Organic Gem Fish
0.5 tsp per gallon Joel Holland Kelp
0.5 tsp per gallon TurfPro
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Bacteria Recipe
Bacillus subtilis (QST 713 strain)
Bacteria Brew
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Serenade MAX 0.5 tsp per gallon
SoilSoup Nutrient Solution 1 oz. per gallon
http://www.agraquest.com/images/logo_serenadeMAX.jpg
http://www.acmewormfarm.com/Acmepix/nutrientSolution.jpg
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To the finished (12-14 hr.) actively aerated
bacteria brew, milk was added and applied on
the milk schedule.
Special application
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Since Powdery Mildew was the focus of this
study, 2.6 cups of powdered milk was added per
gallon (to give a 40% solution) and applied
separately once a week.
NOT the same day of a compost tea treatment
*Think of it as*...
Monday: applying Compost Tea
and
Friday: applying Milk Treatment
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Same recipe was used for both
methods of brewers
Only variations...
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Method of aeration
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Brew time
-Passive aeration: 20-24 hours
-Active aeration: 12-14 hours
Fungicide Control
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Daconil (a.i. Chlorothalonil) was used on a 710 day spray schedule.
Photo taken by Matthew
Timing of applications
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Photo taken by Matthew
DeBacco
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Compost Tea treatments were applied
every 7-10 days and were timed to be
after a rain, if possible.
Milk treatments were also on a separate
7-10 day schedule.
All were applied before sunrise or after
sunset to prevent phytotoxicity and
increase microbe survival rates.
How Brews
were applied
Photo taken by Lucy DeBacco
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A regular, hand powered back-pack sprayer was
used. This allowed for pin-point accuracy.
Different sprayers were used for each treatment
to prevent cross contamination.
All equipment used was rinsed out after every
use. (Includes brewers and sprayers)
How the data was collected
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Basic in-field notes and observations were
documented.
Since the Powdery Mildew severity was based
on visual observations, I had someone who did
not know about my study compare their
independent scorings with mine, and they
almost directly correlated.
This indicates my numbers are a fair
assessment and valid for comparison.
Observed Field Results
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The following is the side by side comparison
between a no treatment, control (on the left)
and a plant that only received actively
aerated Compost Tea and 40% milk
treatments (on the right).
The following pictures were taken around the
middle of August 2007.
Photo taken by Matthew DeBacco
Photo taken by Matthew DeBacco
Photo taken by Matthew DeBacco
Different Angle
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Notice the top two
leaves are the control
and the bottom 7
leaves are part of the
Compost Tea and
milk treatment group.
Photo taken by Matthew
DeBacco
Time warp about a month to
Mid September 2007
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Later that growing season....
Difference
is easily
noticeable
in
mid Sept.
2007
Photo taken by Matthew
DeBacco
Photo taken by Matthew
DeBacco
Hindsight is always
20/20
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If you look at the last picture, you will notice both
leaves have Downy Mildew at this point.
It looks like small oily spots that can appear to be
yellow in coloration.
While I did not notice Downy Mildew at the time
of the picture, I did once the symptoms became
more severe. I then threw out my last data set, so
the following numbers were not slighted.
Scale used to generate numbers
Horsfall-Barratt scale
Index
Percent Affected
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
0
0 to 3
3 to 6
6 to 12
12 to 25
25 to 50
50 to 75
75 to 87
87 to 94
94 to 97
97 to 100
100
Data Charts
entire plant
Control
Actively aerated CT and milk
Actively aerated CT and milk and bacteria
Passively aerated CT and milk
Fungicide
8 leaf sample
Control
Actively aerated CT and milk
Actively aerated CT and milk and bacteria
Passively aerated CT and milk
Fungicide
worst leaf
Control
Actively aerated CT and milk
Actively aerated CT and milk and bacteria
Passively aerated CT and milk
Fungicide
8/30/2007
3
1.5
2
2
1
9/5/2007
3.5
2
2
2
1
9/10/2007
6
2
2.5
4.5
1
9/14/2007
6.5
2.5
3
5
1
8/30/2007
5.5
1.5
2
2
1
9/5/2007
6
2
2
3
1
9/10/2007
7.5
3
4
6.5
1
9/14/2007
8
3
4
6.5
1
8/30/2007
6.5
1.5
2
2
1
9/5/2007
8.5
2
3.5
4.5
1
9/10/2007
8
4
5
7.5
1
9/14/2007
9.5
4.5
5
7.5
1
PM rating for the entire plant
7
6
Horsfall-Barratt scale
5
Control
Actively aerated CT and
milk
Actively aerated CT and
milk and bacteria
Passively aerated CT and
milk
Fungicide
4
3
2
1
0
8/30/2007
9/5/2007
9/10/2007
Date
9/14/2007
PM rating for 8 leaf plant sample
9
Horsfall-Barratt scale
8
7
Control
Actively aerated CT and
milk
Actively aerated CT and
milk and bacteria
Passively aerated CT
and milk
Fungicide
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
8/30/2007
9/5/2007
Date
9/10/2007
9/14/2007
PM Rating for the sigle leaf with the greatest amount of visual infection
10
9
Horsfall-Barratt scale
8
Control
Actively aerated CT and
milk
Actively aerated CT and
milk and bacteria
Passively aerated CT and
milk
Fungicide
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
8/30/2007
9/5/2007
9/10/2007
Date
9/14/2007
Basic Summary
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Actively aerated compost tea suppressed
powdery mildew better than passively aerated.
Adding a bacteria brew did not increase the
ability to suppress disease.
Fungicide treatment was still the most effective
method.
All plants became infected with Downy Mildew
late in the season.
Suggestions for future research

The addition of adjutants can increase the
effectiveness of Compost Tea based on...
Scheuerell, S.J. and Mahaffee, W.F. 2006. Variability associated
with suppression of gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) on geranium by
foliar applications of nonaerated compost teas. Plant Dis.
90:1201-1208

I would suggest ThermX-70 Yucca extract at a
rate of 0.2 tsp per gallon.
Thank you


I hope that this provides some science to
Compost Tea's use on Atlantic Giants.
I would be interested in hearing any
comments and suggestions you have, since I
plan on continuing this research.
By: Matthew DeBacco
http://www.das.state.ct.us/Digest/Digest_2005/University%20of%20Connecticut_files/image002.jpg