How To Use

What It Does

Johnson-Su compost extract contains hundreds of known genetically identifiable species of beneficial fungi spores and bacteria cysts. Use of the compost extract repopulates your soil’s biology with these microbes which live and work synergistically with your crops. Johnson-Su compost extract jumpstarts your soil’s life and vitality.

Applications

Johnson-Su compost extract is beneficial for most plants & soil types.

It is being used on field crops, pastures, orchards, gardens, lawns, and green house plants.

It may be applied: In furrow, as a seed inoculant, for foliar applications, in fertigation systems, or as a soil drench.

When combined with a season’s growth of a multi-species cover crop prior to a heavy nitrogen feeder crop such as corn or cotton it is particularly valuable in enabling the reduction or elimination of NPK fertilizers while maintaining yields.

When used as a biological in a conventional row crop system without a prior multi-species cover crop it will usually provide a “biological bump” to yields. Yield increases of corn from 6 to 28 bushels per acre when applied in furrow or foliar have been reported.Many commercially available biologicals contain a small number of fungal and/or bacterial species. A mature high quality Johnson-Su compost contains a diverse population of hundreds of species of beneficial fungi and hundreds of species of beneficial bacteria. We invite you to conduct side by side field trials with commercially available biologicals you may be considering.

We encourage farmers to conduct field trials before using Johnson-Su on larger acreages.

Methods of Application

  1. In Furrow: Inject compost extract into the seed furrow, coating seed before planter/drill closes furrow.

  2. Seed Inoculant Soak: Apply compost extract liberally onto seed, allow seed to set a few hours for the moisture to be absorbed so as to not clog planter/seeder, then plant.

  3. Foliar Spray: Spray compost extract onto crop.

  4. Center Pivot: Compost extract is injected into irrigation water.

  5. Soil Drench: Very liberally soak soil surrounding individual plantings with compost extract.

How To Use Farm/Ranch Scale

For farm/ranch scale operations make your Johnson-Su extract using a commercially available compost extractor, also known as compost tea extractor. You can also make your own extractor following various designs that can be found online.

The generally recommended concentration is to use 2 pounds of compost per 10 gallons of non-chlorinated water. However there are reports of farmers successfully using concentrations as low as 1 pound per 20 gallons water and as high as 2 pounds per 5 gallons of water.

Always use the extract within no more than 48 hours after extraction, preferably within 24 hours. If it starts to develop a foul odor it has gone bad.

Row Crop Applications

  • The recommended method is to apply the extract via a liquid fertilizer attachment to your planter in such a manner that the extract is sprayed/dribbled onto the seed and onto the open furrow as you plant.

    Recommended rate is 2 pounds in 10 gallons of water per acre. However there are reports of successful applications as low as 1-2 pounds in 5-8 gallons of water per acre.

    It is helpful to screen your extract with a filter prior to pumping it into your planter tank, commonly used is from 50 to 80 mesh screen. Depending upon your filter system you may want to progressively filter, starting with 20 mesh, then 30, then 50 mesh. Keep extract agitated as you are planting. To keep from plugging orifices it is best to remove them. Or use metering hoses on your planter.

  • If your planter is not equipped with a liquid fertilizer attachment, you can inoculate the seed shortly prior to planting. Apply compost extract liberally onto seed, allow seed to set a few hours for the moisture to be absorbed so as to not clog planter/seeder, then plant. Best to not let it fully dry out, best to plant while it is still somewhat moist.

    Recommend using 2 pounds compost per 10 gallon of non-chlorinated water concentration of extract. Typical application rate is approximately 1 gallon per 500 pounds of seed; but this can vary substantially depending upon seed species and method of application. Rates as low as 1 gallon per 750 pounds and as high as 1 gallon per 250 pounds have been used successfully.

    Application methods vary: You can soak seeds in the extract for a few minutes (however if you soak seeds be careful as the seeds may get too wet and too fragile for your planter), you may spray/dribble extract onto a conveyor belt or loading auger as you fill your pro box/tender, you may mix it with your seed in a small feed mixer, etc. It may be necessary to fill one pro box/seed tender, let it sit a few minutes, then move it into a 2nd pro box/seed tender to keep seeds from clumping together.

    If you have difficulty with the moist seed flowing through your planter the addition of talc or graphite may be helpful. This is not needed with most planters.

Cover Crops, Small Grains, Pastures, Seed Drilling, Broadcast Applications

  • If your drill/broadcast spreader is not equipped with a liquid fertilizer attachment, you may inoculate the seed shortly prior to planting. Apply compost extract liberally onto seed, allow seed to set a few hours for the moisture to be absorbed so as to not clog your drill, then plant. Best to not let it fully dry out, best to plant while it is still somewhat moist.

    Recommend using 2 pounds compost per 10 gallon of non-chlorinated water concentration of extract. Typical application rate is approximately 1 gallon per 500 pounds of seed (1 pound of compost treats 2500 pounds of seed); but this can vary substantially depending upon seed species and method of application. Rates as low as 1 gallon per 750 pounds and as high as 1 gallon per 250 pounds have been used successfully.

    Application methods vary: You can soak seeds in the extract for a few minutes (however if you soak seeds be careful as the seeds may get too wet and too fragile for you drill), you can spray/dribble extract onto a conveyor belt or loading auger as you fill your pro box/tender, you can mix it with your seed in a small feed mixer, etc. It may be necessary to fill one pro box/seed tender, let it sit a few minutes, then move it into a 2nd pro box/seed tender to keep seeds from clumping together.

    If you have difficulty with the moist seed flowing through your planter the addition of talc or graphite may be helpful. This is not needed with most planters.

Pasture Restoration

  • One may use a pasture aerator, the type that punches holes. Equip it with a liquid fertilizer attachment and dribble the extract into the holes.

  • Recommended rate is 2 pounds with 10 gallons of non-chlorinated water per acre.

Foliar Spray Applications

  • Foliar spray can be used on row crops, cover crop seedings, pastures, orchards, gardens, etc.

    Generally apply at an early stage of growth, for corn this would be V3 or V4. Another application at or near the end of vegetative growth may be beneficial. For corn this would be near or at tasseling time. For orchards you may want to apply 3-4 times during the season.

    Recommended application rate is 10 gallons of extract per acre, with an extract concentration of 2 pounds of compost per 10 gallons of non-chlorinated water. Rates of 1 pound per acre with 10 gallons of water have also been used successfully. More water tends to be better to give more complete leaf coverage, up to 30 gallons per acre have been used.

    Preferably spray at night so as minimize effect of sunlight and to minimize drying on the leaves. If possible with your spraying equipment coat both top and bottom of leaves. If you prefer to not spray at night, apply in late evening. You can also apply early in the morning while dew is still on, but it may not be as effective.

    Some are using small amounts of fish hydrolysate and other microbial foods to the extract immediately prior to spray application.

  • It is helpful to screen your extract with a filter prior to pumping it into your sprayer tank, commonly used is from 50 to 80 mesh screen. Depending upon your filter system you may want to progressively filter, starting with 20 mesh, then 30, then 50 mesh, then 80 mesh. Some are using a turbo tee jet at 40 PSI. You may need to clean sprayer screens after each load. Keep extract agitated/recirculating as you are spraying.

    You may be able to use a Tee-Jet Extend Range Nozzle such as XR TeeJet SS8010, remove individual filters, and only use a 16 mesh filter.

    Suggest taking a pass through your field with just spraying water and determine how many gallons you need to thoroughly wet tops and (if possible, bottoms) of your crops leaves. This can vary depending upon your spray nozzles, pressure, crop it is applied to, etc. Once you have this established then mix your extract to apply from 1 to 2 pounds of compost per acre.

    Flush sprayer after each use otherwise it may clog with fungal and bacterial growth. Flushing with Mean Green seems to work well.

Directions for Garden Size Batches

Using Johnson-Su Liquid Extract as an Inoculant

To make the extract add 1 tablespoon of compost to 1 quart of non-chlorinated water (¼ cup of compost to 1 gallon of non-chlorinated water for a larger batch) and mix vigorously. An egg beater works well. You can also beat with a fork, or shake in a closed jar. A small paint stirrer on an electric drill works well.

  • You can plant your garden seeds into the furrow or hole you make in your soil, spray the extract directly onto the seeds and onto the soil in the furrow or hole using a small hand-held sprayer then cover the seeds with soil.

    We recommend using a new sprayer just to be sure it doesn’t have any harmful residues in it. We recommend straining the extract through a coarse paint strainer bag (available at hardware stores), cheese cloth, etc. We use a 6” kitchen strainer.

    You may also use a larger sprayer, just be sure it has not been used prior with pesticides or herbicides. Since this is not a fertilizer a heavy application is fine.

  • The extract can be applied through a sprayer or sprinkler onto the leaves of plants. Preferably spray at night so as minimize effect of sunlight and to minimize drying on the leaves. If possible coat both top and bottom of leaves. If you prefer to not spray at night, apply in late evening. You can also apply early in the morning while dew is still on, but it may not be as effective.

  • You can also spray the extract with a sprayer or sprinkler onto soil plots. After spraying the extract, water it into the soil with a garden hose sprayer or sprinkler to ensure that the microbes have filtered down into the soil. Since this is not a fertilizer a heavy application is fine.