How much Compost Tea do I need?
Compost Tea can be applied to foliage, soil, or both. The appropriate method and rate of applying compost tea depends on the objective, site, crop, stage of growth, scale of operation, and available equipment. Although there is no universal application recommendation that applies to all situations, and growers are encouraged to establish methods that best suit their unique situation, the chart at right provides a baseline of rates.
| Compost Tea | Agriculture | Turf |
|---|---|---|
| 50 gallons (200 liters) | 2 acres | 1 acre |
| 250 gallons (1,000 liters) | 10 acres | 5 acres |
| 500 gallons (2,000 liters) | 20 acres | 10 acres |
| 2,500 gallons (10,000 liters) | 100 acres | 50 acres |
* gallon to liter conversions are approximate
Based on 25 gallons Compost Tea concentrate per acre for agriculture, 50 gallons Compost Tea per acre for turf (1 gallon per 1,000 sq ft/1 acre = 43,650 ft)
Applying Compost Tea
Compost Tea can be applied every 14 to 30 days during the growing season.
Foliar application
- Maximum benefits are achieved with thorough leaf coverage.
- Morning application minimizes harmful effects of UV-radiation on microbial life.
- Most conventional spraying and irrigation equipment can be used as-is or adapted for Compost Tea foliar application.
- A typical application rate for foliar application to mature plants is 25 gallons/acre (250 liters/hectare) of Compost Tea concentrate. The amount of water used to deliver this volume will vary according to application equipment. A typical dilution rate is 1:1 Compost Tea:Water.
Soil application
- Soil application of Compost Tea should target the base of the plant and the root zone.
- A watering can is suitable for houseplants or home gardens.
- Horticultural injection systems or drip irrigation can be used for soil application of Compost Tea in larger operations.
- Compost Tea should be applied with enough water to ensure it reaches the root zone; i.e., in drip irrigation or dosing systems the dilution is much higher than foliar application.
- Time of day is less important with soil application than foliar application because the microorganisms are not exposed to the sun.
Our Systems are making Compost Tea at…
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn, NY
Cavallo Point Lodge Sausalito, CA
Central Park New York City, NY
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Kona, HI
Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA
Kezar Stadium San Francisco, CA
Lincoln Park Golf Course San Francisco, CA
Lotusland Santa Barbara, CA
Martha Stewart Katonah, NY
National Tropical Botanical Garden Hana, HI
New York City Parks Deparment New York City, NY
New York Restoration Project New York City, NY
Sharp Park Golf Course San Francisco, CA
The Edible Schoolyard Berkeley, CA
The Mirage Resort and Casino Las Vegas, NV
The Presidio Trust National Park San Francisco, CA
Yale University New Haven, CT
Treasury Wine Estates Creston, CA
Apricot Lane Farms Moorepark, CA
Benziger Family Winery Glen Ellen, CA
Armenia Farms San Marcos, Guatemala
Quintessa Wine Rutherford, CA
San Francisco International Airport San Francisco, CA
Department of Veterans Affairs Biloxi, MS
Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy Buffalo, NY
National Park Service Arkansas Post Gillett, AR
Oakham School Rutland, UK
Montemaggiore Winery Healdsburg, CA