spraying compost tea with zspray

[sweetjetskier]

Does anyone here have experience with spraying compost teas with a zspray?

Looking to add a few more things to the "basket"

I don't want to go back to skid sprayers!!!!

Can teas be sprayed at this volume with good results?

Any info is appreciated
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[phasthound]

Does anyone here have experience with spraying compost teas with a zspray?

Looking to add a few more things to the "basket"

I don't want to go back to skid sprayers!!!!

Can teas be sprayed at this volume with good results?

Any info is appreciated
Posted via Mobile Device

Are you asking about tea you brew yourself or something like ICT?

The standard response for Aerated Compost Tea is as long as you apply about 5 gals of undiluted tested tea per acre, the application rate for diluted tea shouldn't matter. I would be concerned about clogging nozzles.

ICT Organics 1-2-3 should be applied at 1 ounce each of #2 & #3 per 3,000K. Should not clog nozzles.

I would recommend the turf be irrigated after applying with zspray.

[ICT Bill]

Does anyone here have experience with spraying compost teas with a zspray?

Looking to add a few more things to the "basket"

I don't want to go back to skid sprayers!!!!

Can teas be sprayed at this volume with good results?

Any info is appreciated
Posted via Mobile Device

I think, please correct me if I am wrong, Z-Sprays can put out .8 gallons per 1000. That should be fine for applying compost teas, although you would like a little more volume it should work fine

Check out this thread and the PEARL
http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=288651&highlight=Organic+Lawn+Training%3F%3F

about 3/4 of the way down

[nc-jrock]

I would like to know if using the zspray would destroy the microbs in a compost tea?

[ICT Bill]

I would like to know if using the zspray would destroy the microbs in a compost tea?

Why would it? If you use extractions instead of aerated compost tea most of the microbes are in dormant or spore form. You can hardly hurt them, the tea last much longer too.

If using ACT you may beat up a bunch of hyphi and splatter a few bacteria, so you are only putting down 999,999 instead of 1,000,000 microbes per sq ft

[NattyLawn]

Bill, for someone that has claimed to never brew tea, how can you give advice? Would I consider .8 gallons per k of tea acceptable? Nope. Would .8 gallons per k penetrate the soil? Nope. You would barely get the grass blades wet.

Minimum two gallons, but 4 plus gallons per k would be ideal.

And yes, the agitation of the tanks would definitely hurt some of the microbes. In tea or an extract, they'll get tore up by the pump. How much does it hurt? The best bet is to have someone scope the tea before and after it comes out.

[ICT Bill]

Bill, for someone that has claimed to never brew tea, how can you give advice? Would I consider .8 gallons per k of tea acceptable? Nope. Would .8 gallons per k penetrate the soil? Nope. You would barely get the grass blades wet.

Minimum two gallons, but 4 plus gallons per k would be ideal.

And yes, the agitation of the tanks would definitely hurt some of the microbes. In tea or an extract, they'll get tore up by the pump. How much does it hurt? The best bet is to have someone scope the tea before and after it comes out.

You make a good point, without looking at it before and after you don't really know

I never claimed to not make tea, I certainly have been around enough. I have made my own backyard brew now and then and have helped others with much larger scenarios
I can only speak to our product and the results, there are many across the US that use ride-on's to apply our stuff, I would like to see 2 gallons per 1000, some folks modify the jets and pump to get just over 1 gallon per 1000 they just go over the area twice

The "Pearl" that I posted is made for tea applications and puts out just over 2 gallons per 1000

[sweetjetskier]

The thing that made me think of using z spray to apply teas was after watching " This Old House " the other day at Harvard.

They were using a tank sprayer and hand appying, but were also using a tractor with 3 pt sprayer.

the main thing I was wondering was volume of materials being would be enough.

The guy said they apply 4 times a season only.

And they make the tea themselves and add molasses and fish emulsion.
Posted via Mobile Device

[ICT Bill]

The thing that made me think of using z spray to apply teas was after watching " This Old House " the other day at Harvard.

They were using a tank sprayer and hand appying, but were also using a tractor with 3 pt sprayer.

the main thing I was wondering was volume of materials being would be enough.

The guy said they apply 4 times a season only.

And they make the tea themselves and add molasses and fish emulsion.
Posted via Mobile Device

I had a long talk with Bob Posthumus (tree show in Baltimore) who makes the brewer they use, they brew 250 gallons at a time and if I remember correctly they do not dilute the product. He was saying that they did trials in certain areas and then moved to almost campus wide

Their biggest issue is soil compaction from all of the foot traffic, I think the 4 times a year is mostly a logistical thing, once they get the process down it will probably be season wide applications

You can make 2 passes if you want more down

As an old friend says: you can't do it wrong, you can just do it better

[DUSTYCEDAR]

YOU CAN CHANGE THE FLOW RATE OF THE Z
also move slower and put more down
but like natty said more water the better i like at least 2 gal p-k

[grassman177]

i understand the whole two gal per thousand thing, but what if you timed it to get rained it within 24 hrs or less after applying, could you still put it down full strength at a 1/2 gal per K app rate?? i do have 1 gal tips but have never used them, just curious as to why you cant use the smaller tips if the act of getting down in the soil seems to be everyone's real concern here and it was going to rain or irrigation was gong to be used. thoughts?

[emarhamp]

Compost tea contains fungi that are susceptible to damage via pumping or spray jets with openings less than 60 microns. Diaphram pumps are required for best results. The pressure should be kept under 80 lbs. and the impact on surfaces sprayed can cause damage as well so keep some distance.

[phasthound]

i understand the whole two gal per thousand thing, but what if you timed it to get rained it within 24 hrs or less after applying, could you still put it down full strength at a 1/2 gal per K app rate?? i do have 1 gal tips but have never used them, just curious as to why you cant use the smaller tips if the act of getting down in the soil seems to be everyone's real concern here and it was going to rain or irrigation was gong to be used. thoughts?

Watering in is a way to help get the microbes into the soil.
Applying compost tea in the rain can keep your production numbers up.

Keep in mind that CT also has beneficial effects as a foliar treatment.

[phasthound]

Compost tea contains fungi that are susceptible to damage via pumping or spray jets with openings less than 60 microns. Diaphram pumps are required for best results. The pressure should be kept under 80 lbs. and the impact on surfaces sprayed can cause damage as well so keep some distance.

I hear this repeated a lot, but I know folks who have consistently had great results applying at much higher pressure using piston pumps to spray large trees.

I have diaphragm pumps and apply at 100-200 lbs.

[ICT Bill]

Hey emarhamp welcome to the forum, we're glad your here. Tell us your experience with CT, bakyarder or out doing commercial work?

[Grohorganic]

I hear this repeated a lot, but I know folks who have consistently had great results applying at much higher pressure using piston pumps to spray large trees.

I have diaphragm pumps and apply at 100-200 lbs.

yep, and its a matter of how many #s got hurt and who lived. also some of the different micro herd do better at less stressful pressure and others.... well there bio mass. ACT vs LCE , the LCE will do better...... but..........#s#s#s

got to have a scope and some "eyes" on the tea. so they made it past the nozzle and then what??? 24 hours later they are toast or ??????any one look at the 12 24 48 hour marks. what happens over time and what herd does good?

if its raining thats great( a blessing from the sky) but if its dry most water ban areas still let you water in, so hit the timer and let it test cycle for 3-5 minutes per zone and your good to go.

[NattyLawn]

Watering in is a way to help get the microbes into the soil.
Applying compost tea in the rain can keep your production numbers up.

Keep in mind that CT also has beneficial effects as a foliar treatment.

That's fine, but do you want to use your Z-spray in the rain?

So you would still recommend "real" compost tea at 1/2 gallon or less per k as a foliar?

[ICT Bill]

If that is the mode of operation I say at least do trials and see if it works for you
You can't do it wrong you can just do it better

If you use less dilution aren't you still getting down what you would at 2 or 3 gallons per 1000

I think you would have to move to a different jet though, flood jet type nozzle would work best and not clog

[phasthound]

That's fine, but do you want to use your Z-spray in the rain?

So you would still recommend "real" compost tea at 1/2 gallon or less per k as a foliar?

Nah, I wouldn't recommend using any ride on in the rain. Sorry for that.

Elaine Ingham has told me you only need 5 gals of ACT per acre for turf no matter what the dilution rate is.

[NattyLawn]

Nah, I wouldn't recommend using any ride on in the rain. Sorry for that.

Elaine Ingham has told me you only need 5 gals of ACT per acre for turf no matter what the dilution rate is.

Ahhh...The ever changing dilution rate. I'm exiting stage left with deeproots.