Early studies with non‐aerated comp

Early studies with non‐aerated compost teas (NCTs)indicated that brewing conditions that favor a brief period of low oxygen may in fact increase diversity of active microorganisms and disease suppressive properties of NCT (Scheuerell, 2004) while sterilization of NCT eliminates the microbial population and disease suppression observed in the laboratory studies (Scheueller 2002). In a more recent study, NCT and ACT brewing techniques were compared with or without aeration, and in presence or absence of nutrient additive for suppression of fungus Phythium damping off of cucumber seedling. The study showed that no significant correlation could be drawn between the microbial population in the compost tea brewed under continuous aeration, and disease suppression. However, addition of nutrients to ACTCompost tea Literature Review