Activated Aereted Compost Tea (AACT)
Nutritious watering full of life
Soil revitalisation and performance
Revolutionise your garden with organic living soil cultivation
AACT in France
Little-known and little-used in France, oxygenated compost tea (TCO), or AACT in english (activated aerated compost tea), is a liquid extracted and fermented from composted materials in the presence of oxygen. Unlike liquid manure obtained by soaking without forced air, TCO has no unpleasant odors because it is non-pathogenic, and fertilizers are extracted more rapidly. It contains both soluble nutrients and living microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes).
Translated with DeepL.com (free version).
What's the point of oxygenated compost tea ?
In short, it nourishes and protects your plant by revitalizing the soil. The greater diversity of the microbial population means a greater capacity to counter pathogens and retain nutrients.
What's more, the higher the concentration of nutrients in the extract (the tea), the greater the development of beneficial microorganisms (hence the importance of the filter!).
Although totally organic, this easy-to-use method is similar to mineral fertilization in its speed of assimilation. Depending on requirements, dried plants (alfalfa, horsetail, nettle, comfrey, etc.) and organic supplements (composted products, algae, hydrolysates, micronized rocks, etc.) should be added to promote cation exchange.
Watch your crops reach new heights with Terralba's unique approach!
The benefits of AACT
Improves plant growth
Better nutrient absorption
Improved plant nutrient quality
Beneficial microorganisms vs. pathogenic
Better nutrient retention
Lower amendment costs
Activate your soil, create your own range of organic fertilizers!
The basic AACT recipe
Initial dosage for use on small surfaces (10-250m²)
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For 10L of solution: 200 to 250g of compost (or vermicompost) + 10 to 20ml of unrefined black cane molasses
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As an option, to make your micro-organism-enriched solution more nutrient-rich, still for 10L of solution: 20g of various micronized rocks (azomite, zeolites, epsom salt...), 10g of various micronized dried plants (nettle, comfrey, horsetail...), 10g of algae (kelp, spirulina...) or hydrolysates (fish, kelp...)...
Duration of oxygenated compost teas
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24h for a bacterial tea (for annual plants)
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24-36h for fungal teas (hedges, trees)
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48h for a stabilizing protozoan tea (microbial fauna regulator)
Water temperature must be between 18° and 22°C.
Molasses, an essential
Cane molasses serves as food for microorganisms. They're greedy, and love it so they can multiply! Contains unrefined sugars and trace elements.
Tips: make sure your preparation is homogenous by mixing it thoroughly in a container or using a shaker.
Add a sandy rock such as Chabasite zeolite to prevent settling, and avoid premature anaerobic degradation inside your filter.
How often should you produce your AACT?
Frequency: with compost alone 2 times a month, without plants or supplements; up to 2-3 times a week with plants and supplements for fattening, depending on the type of crop and the greediness of your plants.
The list of components for your AACT prover :
One container
Bucket, Barrel, Vat (From 10-20L to larger volumes 60-120-200-1000L). Your container should be about 1/4 as large as the quantity of solution (for 15L of tea use a 20L bucket, for example).
A 400µ or 200µ filter
Large enough to accommodate the composted material(s), rocks, plants and other supplements. Why 400µ and 200µ? - To allow all micro-organisms to pass through (200µ is for bacteria, larger for bacteria and fungi).
Air Compressor
Must be of very high quality, but oxygenation without violence (less than 1.3 bar). A lack of performance can hinder the development of your TCO (+ 200L/H Minimum For 15L Solution for example) or other high-performance water oxygenation systems (venturi).
Oxygen Diffuser
Connected to your pump to provide all the oxygen your TCO needs to thrive.
A Tap or Pump
To collect and/or water your TCO once it's finished. All you have to do is pour it into a sprayer, watering can or spray tank.
Options
A pump for stirring the solution, preferably a ceramic or Vortex system.
Find out more about our complete AACT machine kits to produce and apply the process yourself.
Everything you need to create your TCO at home with our machines for preparing TCO high quality - made to last.
2 recipes for AACT amendments to meet 100% of your annual growing needs (for your vegetable garden, garden, balcony...).
Alternative amendments
If you don't have fresh compost, use vermicompost for best results, or guanogalli and mealworm guano to fertilize your plants (these 2 materials are also already composted). All earthworm and insect droppings will feed your soil with microorganisms and nutrients. They are composted and therefore directly assimilated, promoting symbiosis with your root systems.
Never use products that have not been dried, reduced or composted, to avoid pathogen development! (dried blood, marine guano...)
You can supplement your soil improver with our soluble bacteria, fish hydrolysate, kelp hydrolysate (ascophyllum nodosum), biochar, or spirulina (watch out for moss :)!
Epsom salt will provide a good quantity of magnesium and sulfur to your solution, trace elements necessary during growth.
Chabasite-type zeolite will stabilize your solution by depolluting it through filtration. Micronized azomite or clinoptilolite zeolite provides all the trace elements and protection you need. They contain dozens and dozens of traces of earth minerals! In this way, your crops will be able to express their full potential in terms of taste, color and quality!
We also design fermenters in 60, 120, 1000l TCO kits on request...
Find everything you need to create your customized TCO in our specialized storee
Terralba offers you the essential elements ( Complete Packs, Utensils, Plants, Seeds and various quality accessories )