Research Summary

Research and Articles on the Benefits of Compost Tea

Here is a sample of the hundreds of scientific and journal articles on the benefits of compost tea for crop production, disease suppression and soil fertilization:

A comprehensive overview of the biology and benefits of the Bountea Compost Tea System by the person who developed it. read

Compost Tea: Roland Evans, Colorado Gardener, 4/05, revised 1/07
A simple general article on the brewing and benefits of compost tea for gardeners. read

Supression of Septoria Leaf Spot (septoria lycopersici) and Early Blight (alternaria solani) of Tomato using Aerated Compost Tea : Chandrappa Gangaiah, 2004.
This study at Kansas State University, in consultation with John Evans, showed that the use of fungally activated compost tea significantly controlled tomato blight. Read the research abstract.    

Evaluating the Benefits for Compost Teas to the Small Market Grower:   Pat Bailey, Greenbook, 2003, Minnesota Dept of Agriculture. PDF format (252 KB)
With application of a simple compost tea, grape yields were 20% higher and damping off for herbs and cucumbers was substantially reduced.

Time for (Compost) Tea in the Northwest: Adrienne Touart, BioCycle, October 2000.
With compost tea, tomatoes set earlier and grew better, crops avoided gray mold, tilth increased in clay soils, etc. This article details the beneficial use of compost tea in Oregon.

Brewing Up Solutions To Pest Problems: Lisa Wickland, Todd Murray and Joyce Jimerson, BioCycle, March 2001.
This article details a scientific study of the use of simple compost tea in the suppression of damping off in basil seedlings.

Understanding Compost Tea: Vicki Bess, BioCycle, October 2000.
A general down-to-earth overview of compost tea basics.

Notes on Compost Teas: Steve Diver, ATTRA Publication #IP118/103, 2002.
A comprehensive overview of compost tea brewing, compost tea benefits, the soil food web, key literature and many links.

Using Compost To Control Plant Diseases: Tom De Ceuster and Harry Hoitink, BioCycle, June 1999.
A very comprehensive examination of the use of compost and compost borne microorganisms in soil fertility and the suppression of plant diseases.

Healthy Plants Grown in Healthy Soil Are More Pest, Disease, and Drought Resistant : Scott Supak
Some good simple tips on how to be keep an organic garden healthy and productive. He suggests “manure tea” but Bountea is better! read

• View John Evans and his incredible Giant Vegetables in: The Secret is in the Soil
• Read what our customers say about the Bountea Compost Tea System
• Learn more about soil ecology
• Purchase "Teaming with Microbes: A Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web" by Jeff Lowenfels, from Amazon