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Key West, FL

I've been doing quite a bit of researching here about CT's and ACT's. I've also been researching the Agro K program. While reading the description of Symbrew, it struck me as an anaerobic process with the potential for bad fungus/bacteria and the potential for problems. Am I wrong? Is this the old way of brewing up a batch of Symbrew?

10/10/2007 3:21:12 PM

Key West, FL

From the website:

"GETTING STARTED - PILOT PROGRAM
Symbrew can be made in a plastic 55-gallon drum to start. Once comfortable with the process, you can expand to large quantities if needed. 55 gallons is sufficient for one acre of vines, trees or vegetable crop.
6. Place your 55-gallon drum in an area that will receive sun light much of the day.
7. Fill ¾ full with water
8. Add 1 quart of Symbex 4X and 1 quart of Calcium DL or Vigor-Cal.
9. Add manure (horse or cow) at the rate of 10-20 Ibs. per every 50 gallons of water. This is your fermentation bacterium.
10. Add 10-20 Ibs. of compost material. . (Field residue with history of fungal pathogens is not recommended for use).
11. Stir and cover drum    .
12. Stir the Symbrew every 3 or 4 days to increase activity and breakdown of the manure and compost. Remember you are mimicking rumen fermentation that is basically an anaerobic process.
13. After 3 to 4 weeks (when daily temperatures are 75°F and higher) and 5 to 6 weeks (when daily temperatures are between 45 and 65°F), Symbrew will have digested and solublized most ofthe organic matter.
14. Apply product to plants at their base and watered into the root zone or injected via irrigation.
15. If the Symbrew is going to be injected through irrigation, screen through a fine mesh and inject before the sand filter.
16. To increase nutrients, organic fanners can apply dry manure mulch in the sprinkler zone. You should be able to see visible differences in the mulch breakdown directly under the sprinkler head vs. an area that is not getting sprayed from the sprinkler.

10/10/2007 3:21:34 PM

Key West, FL

1 7. If more N, P. K is desired, organic growers can add additional materials such as blood meal, soybean meal, alfalfa meal, cal-phos, potassium sulfate into the brewing drum to be liquefied with the compost. In addition, micronutrients such as calcium and magnesium may be added as well.
18. Non-organic growers can add urea, potassium phosphate and potassium nitrate to the drum. Never add ammoniacal products or potassium chloride as these will kill or lower the bacteria needed for fermentation.
19. Repeat process for second drum. If there is some residue on the bottom of the drum it does not need to be removed."

10/10/2007 3:21:38 PM

Key West, FL

Do most of you who follow the AGRO K program follow this process for you Symbrew drenches?

Thanks

10/10/2007 3:23:35 PM

President - GPC

I did not do the drenches this year as I went AACT, just felt it had way more upside to it aftering all my offseason studing......I wonder how many of the bigs this year that went over bigtime, used AACT. I know I would not foliar spray the Agro-K drench on my leaves as I did this year with the AACT, the plant seemed to love it, leaves never looked better, did not see PM at home till the very end when temps dipped in to the 40's....

10/10/2007 4:02:38 PM

Sheridan . NY

May i ask what bad and harmful bacteria you feel might be there--?? the idea with the Symbrew is the ruminate action or rumen bacteria--it is a totally different than any of the bacterias are present in the soil--it helps break down and uptake were the others cant --just as forage in a cows stomach help it intake the thing it needs --i assunming you have read the full 5 pages on the symbrew--lots of guys use it and do well----craig

10/10/2007 7:17:38 PM

Key West, FL

I was under the impression that if you brew something like that with manure in it and the process is not aerobic that bacteria harmful bacteria (like E coli) would/could form. Everyone seems to think that aerobic is the way to go and I'm just wondering if it would be better to add air to the Symbrew brewing process rather than just stiring the mixture. Trying to see what people more knowledgeable about the topic than I, think about it.

Maybe you could shed some more light on that topic for me Craig as I am interested in the Agro K program. Thank you.

10/10/2007 7:37:13 PM

Sheridan . NY

no problem---now air what does air do to bacteria--?--it excellrates things as in a bubbler --but any how its part of the process of how were make these monsters bigger aerobic non aerobic??? they both have there ups and downs--craig

10/10/2007 7:58:03 PM

Key West, FL

What are the positives of anaerobic over aerobic?

10/10/2007 9:02:59 PM

Key West, FL

Bacteria needs from the Symbrew brochure: "These needs consist of nitrogen for protein, phosphorus, potassium and micro-minerals, oxygen (for aerobic,
microbes), water and carbon for energy."

I'm just wondering if it might be better to brew this mixture of yours using air instead of stirring every few days? If not, why? (Just trying to learn.)

10/10/2007 9:09:26 PM

Sheridan . NY

AIR --i dont think any one has done air --but i think it will act like it does when you do a compost pile--if you add air and turn a compost it will excellrate and break down and turn to compost--in this case i think it will excellarate and turn to black water or sewer water and eat its self- we did a test were we add fish and molasses and it bubbled and ate it self and turned to black water--the covering and stir lets the brew stay together and not excel keeping its ingredents intacked--ok any thoughts Im open for any thoughts and ideas--

10/11/2007 1:33:15 PM