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Organic Lawn Care

beneficial fungi versus corn meal

17 years ago

Corn meal is known for its antifungal characteristics. Will it kill the ACT(aerated compost tea) if we apply corn meal since ACT are also fungi?

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Comments (12)

dchall_san_antonio
17 years ago
Corn meal works as an antifungal by encouraging the growth of the Trichoderma (try ko DER mah) species of fungi. These bad boys live off the cell walls of other fungi. In abnormal numbers Trichoderma can harm the soil biology; however, you can't get abnormal numbers unless you grow them in a lab and apply them directly. The only thin you can get with corn meal is normal numbers.

I bought some corn meal last weekend for a little fungal problem I have going. As I have mentioned before, my yard gets full use by the family. One thing my wife does is prune shrubs and put them out at the curb to be hauled away. I can count on fungal problems under those piles.
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v1rt
Original Author
17 years ago
That means, it's ok then. If you were to apply it, which one will you apply first, ACT or corn meal and how many days will you allow for the gap?

I want to follow the footsteps of the expert. :) Woohoo!

Thanks dchall!
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Just to play the devil's advocate, why would corn meal be any less useful as a carb source for the microherd than other grain meals? If you are going organic to feed the soil, doesn't just about any biodegradeable "stuff" that breaks down, like all the stuff we put in the compost pile, feed the soil? Just like compost, which some hate to refer to as fertilizer, I see it as one in the context it feeds the soil. It may take more, depending on the stuff used to make it, but, it can certainly maintain anything you want to grow if you use enough and properly. My two cents on that similar but unrelated issue is that it is one of the better ways to feed your soil if you have the time, money and inclination to apply enough of it. Personally, I shoot for one application of cornmeal at about 20 lbs a thousand for one of my fertilization applications simply to feed the soil that app and with hopes it might encourage "good" fungi that might help with fungus and disease issues in my cool season lawn during the hottest weather. Now, even as the Devil's Advocate on this thread I wouldn't claim for a certainty that corn meal has any of the other benefits claimed by some, such as anti-fungal properties (though the encouragement of certain beneficial fungi seems to make sense, though science doesn't always back up what makes sense), but, I can't see why it isn't at least similarly good enough "stuff" compared to other plant "stuff." So, in that many organic gardeners suggest meals are the best way to fertilize the lawn and feed the soil, why would corm meal be much different than other meals? In other words, it feeds the soil. And, it might even have some other beneficial aspects. Cost versus amount needed might make it more expensive to use than some other grain meals on the amount of bang you get for the buck, that, I haven't tried to check on. But, outside of that...?
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There are other factors besides corn meal (keep the surface of leaves dry and alkaline, or extremely acidic) ... such as how much potassium the root can pick up to fight diseases. Without potassium, plants have weak stems and thin leaves, more susceptible to fungal invasion. Are your roses grafted on Dr. Huey? Grafted roses have problems picking up water and nutrients, since it has to pass UP a restricted bud union. That bud union could be damaged by dryness in stores, winter, or acidity in soil. I bought Gruss an Teplitz, the parent of Dr. Huey, just to do experiments. Gruss an Teplitz is famous for black spots and mildew. Gruss is the ONLY ROSE in my pot ghetto of 16 roses, that come down with severe aphids infestation. Gruss has skinny tender stems, symptoms of potassium deficiency. I gave Gruss Sulfate of Potash, NPK 0-0-50, and it didn't help, still weak stem. Dr. Huey, as the offspring of Gruss, doesn't pick up potassium well either. Potassium is needed to fight diseases. That's why GRAFTED-ROSES on Dr. Huey is more susceptible to diseases. All my 52+ roses are own-root, last year I didn't bother to dust them with corn meal, just a touch of black spots on Eglantyne. This summer I gave Eglantyne potassium via Sulfate of Potash, when the buds are tiny.... it's 100% clean in this month's rainy weather. Below is hybrid tea Sweet Promise, own-root, taken next to hybrid tea, Firefighter, also own-root ... both are clean, zero diseases. Picture taken end of May: This post was edited by Strawberryhill on Mon, Jul 21, 14 at 15:17
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v1rt
Original Author
17 years ago
I saw this from the organic lawn care faq.

The Trichoderma (try-ko-DER-ma) fungus eats the pathogenic fungi. Trichoderma grows especially well on whole ground corn meal.

I have 4 bags of 50 lbs corn meal which I bought last week from a friend. I think, it's about 1 to 2 years old. Will my cornmeal still be effective?
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bpgreen
17 years ago
I'm not an expert, but I think it would be fine. It might be moldy, but it'll be the "good" mold. And it might have bugs, but bugs are protein, too.

But I wouldn't store it in the house while you're waiting to apply it.
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dchall_san_antonio
17 years ago
Any remaining corn meal will still be good, but you might find them full of bugs. If so you could still compost it with some browns (leaves).

Because of bugs I always suggest people not buy more organic materials than they can use in one season. If you have a big freezer, you could kill any bugs or eggs in the corn meal before you open the bags.
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dchall_san_antonio
17 years ago
I just got some good info in on this topic. I'm waiting for permission to use it. Hopefully on Thursday.
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v1rt
Original Author
17 years ago
Cool! I'll be expecting!
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ronalawn82
17 years ago
I am unfamiliar with ACT fungus or otherwise Could someone please point me in the right direction?
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dchall_san_antonio
17 years ago
The fundamental reading on soil microbes is at NRCS. Settle in; it's 50 pages long.

Here is a link that might be useful: Soil Biology Primer
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v1rt
Original Author
17 years ago
dchall, if you have ACT and cornmeal both at the same time, which will you apply first, ACT or corn meal and how many days interval before you apply the other?
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lou_spicewood_tx
17 years ago
i'd put down cornmeal first then spray ACT. Every 3 months is good for cornmeal, soybean, etc. ACT is optional..
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v1rt
Original Author
17 years ago
Great! Thanks lou.
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