Work

Evaluating compost tea recipes for enhanced nutrient cycling: An innovative management practice for sustainable soil health

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Compost tea is one of the organic amendments that contribute significantly to enhance soil quality. Compost tea, as an alternative to synthetic fertilizer, is incredibly important for sustainable plant growth and soil health; however, most of its biochemical characteristics are poorly understood. In this study, eight compost tea recipes with two compost sources (WSU bedding compost and vermicompost) and four additive-based formulations (A, B, C, and D) were evaluated under varying aeration and brewing conditions. Recipes A and B, with whey powder and sugar, exposed higher microbial populations 36.276 and 53.695 nM/ml than the microbial population 3.487 and 1.909 nM/ml in recipe C and D respectively. Recipes A, B, and C showed different microbial communities dominated by bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, respectively. Brewing time influenced the properties of compost tea. Compost teas were dominated by highest bacterial populations 3.046 nM/ml on day 1 compared to day 3, 6, and 10 (2.223, 1.353, and 0.869 nM/ml). There was an increase in protozoa and fungal populations in day 3 while relatively less population in other days. NH4-N was higher under additive-rich recipes (A and B) compared to (C and D), reflecting greater ammonification, while NO3-N was more elevated under the control recipes, reflecting greater aerobic microbial activity compared to other recipes. Nutrient concentrations varied widely and underscored the importance of recipe composition. Phospholipid fatty acid analysis and fungal-to-bacterial biomarker ratios indicated that nutrient-rich additives B and A favored fungi and overall microbial activity. Overall, compost teas with additive composition, brewing and aeration time differed significantly than compost source. Optimizing compost tea recipes and brewing conditions can improve the efficacy of compost teas for sustainable soil and plant health.

Source: Applied Soil Ecology

DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106618

Authors: Adel Saad, Syed Hamid Hussain Shah, Lynne Carpenter-Boggs

Institution: Washington State University

Language: English

Topic: Composting and Vermicomposting Techniques

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,320