Compost Tea NPK testing - Ask Extension
Hello! This year I have finally gotten around to creating "compost tea" barrels for my veggie garden. I have a good system down for filling ...
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Compost Tea NPK testing #840839
Asked July 15, 2023, 4:49 PM EDT
Hello! This year I have finally gotten around to creating "compost tea" barrels for my veggie garden. I have a good system down for filling the barrels and steeping the "tea"... and the plants LOVE it... but I am curious as to exactly WHAT they are getting and what I may be able to do to improve on this system.
My question... What is the best way to test the NPK, acidity, etc. of my compost tea? I know that places like the extension services do SOIL testing, but is there anywhere that does LIQUID testing?
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Scott Peake:
Wow, pretty tidy set-up you have there.
I make a lot of compost, myself, but not teas, so I can't provide information from my personal experience.
You could start with a generalized online search for "compost tea analysis," and see what comes up.
The Central Analytical Laboratory at Oregon State University or Soilsmith in Philomath Oregon are two places of which I'm aware that do test liquids. I am not recommending either of them as I've not done this type of analysis through them.
Contact any lab to see whether they provide the types of services you want, how samples should be packaged, and what the costs are likely to be.
Wow, pretty tidy set-up you have there.
I make a lot of compost, myself, but not teas, so I can't provide information from my personal experience.
You could start with a generalized online search for "compost tea analysis," and see what comes up.
The Central Analytical Laboratory at Oregon State University or Soilsmith in Philomath Oregon are two places of which I'm aware that do test liquids. I am not recommending either of them as I've not done this type of analysis through them.
Contact any lab to see whether they provide the types of services you want, how samples should be packaged, and what the costs are likely to be.
