so, I've been tinkering around with this terra preta thing and have got to wondering: is SPT a one-stop solution for beneficial microbes, or would additional amendments (such as subculture m&b [or maybe rid-x]) be of further service toward good rhizospheric development? 'possible detrimental reactions from further amendments? your thoughts please.


many thanks!
-g

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Georgi345.... SPT is like Sub-culture B & M in one package. Or the higher priced AN Tarantcula & Voo doo juices combined. So, money spent on anything else, after the SPT, would be a bit of a waste.
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Terra Preta soil is cool. Proof positive that recycling is good for the environment.
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I find it very interesting how this choice topsoil, is always increasing in area, both vertically and horizonally. Plus it is very fertile, all thanks to the micro-beasties.
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Hope this helps......
Keep it Real.....Organic.....
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that's as i suspicioned. thanks!
do you know if there's a "data sheet" anywhere that lists the microbeasties present in SPT? i'm in the beginning stages of an autodidact foray into the realm of microbiology (thanks, actually, in no small part to the spur of this very thread!) and would love to know just what it is i'd be observing under the 'scope!

thanks again!
-g

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Georgi345..... BMO will tell you they are beneficial bacteria and fungi, but will not give out their ingredients list on the micro-beasties in the SPT.
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I swapped messages with the guy who invented the stuff a few years ago. He told me it contained many of the same ingredients as Sub Culture, but in very specific ratios.
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He added they take a large group of harmful bacteria, kill them using heat, pH extremes and UV light, then inject small amounts into the SPT as it is being made.
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This causes the benefical bacteria and fungi, to go into defense mode, excreting certain substances harmful to the bad bacteria and fungi. But since the bad guys are already dead, these defense substances remain in suspension. That is part of the reason why SPT can fix soil issues so quickly.
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Hope this helps.......
Keep it Real....Organic.....
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indeed it does.
the known beneficial microorganisms in SubCulture are bacillus subtilis, bacillus licheniformis, bacillus megaterium, bacillus pumulis, paenibacillus polymyxa, streptomyces lydicus, streptomyces griseus, pseudomonas fluorescence, & trichoderma harzianum... so, knowing in part what to look for will be helpful then as well in identifying what all else is in SPT that isn't in SubCulture (and vice versa... i'm guessing that lacto bacilli is going to be one of the constituents in SPT...?), albeit requiring some sleuthing investigation with the scope on my part (which is, of course, half the fun/learning process).

many thanks again!
-g

I just wanted to point out that there might be a danger of mixing SPT with distilled water. I am no expert but I would speculate that the distilled water would create a hypotonic environment and possibly cause the microorganisms to burst.

Ohso, Do you think the BMO product line would do well with rockwool slabs and flood tray?