Ohio State Shows Aerated Compost Tea Is Way Better

Vermi-Compost Tea Production and Plant Growth Impacts
Biocycle Compost Research 2007
Link Here

    A team of Ohio State researchers undertook a series of experiments in order to assess a number of characteristics of vermicompost teas and their effects on plant growth.  The most significant find was related to aerated versus non-aerated teas.  They saw that Nitrate levels were higher in aerated teas.  Nitrate is a form of Nitrogen that plants can more readily use.  Also, microbial biomass and enzyme activity were greater in the aerated tea, indicating that the number of microbes and their metabolic activity levels were higher.   In follow up experiment the  brilliant Buckeyed scientists looked at how aeration affected plant growth.  They ran trials on cucumber and tomato plants, some with aerated tea, some without non-aerated tea.  The differences were drastic (click the Link Here to see pictures) and a significant effect was seen even at the lowest concentration tested, which was 1 gallon of tea in 20 gallons of water.  Germination rate, leaf area, and plant height were all substantially increased through the use of aerated tea.   It looks like if you're going to brew it, you should absolutely bubble it.  

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