What Is Compost Tea? Feeding the Soil Food Web Naturally
- Wynand Cronje
- Jan 21
- 2 min read
Compost Tea is a living biological extract designed to restore soil function, increase nutrient efficiency, and strengthen plant resilience.
Rather than forcing growth through chemistry, Compost Tea works with nature, activating the soil food web so plants can access nutrients in the form they naturally require.
What Exactly Is Compost Tea?
Compost Tea is a water-based extraction of high-quality compost, brewed under strictly aerobic conditions to multiply beneficial microorganisms.
During the brewing process:
Selective nutritive substrata are added to stimulate microbial growth
Air is continuously bubbled through the system
Dissolved oxygen is maintained above 6 ppm
The brew is completed over 48 hours
The result is a living solution containing:
Organic compounds
Micro- and macro-nutrients
Beneficial bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes
Unlike synthetic inputs, these nutrients are already biologically processed. Ready for plant uptake without stress or imbalance.
What Happens Inside the Compost Tea Tank?
A Living Explosion of Biology
Inside the Compost Tea system, a remarkable transformation unfolds:
Bacteria – The First Responders
Present in the billions within the compost starter
Can replicate every 30 minutes under ideal conditions
Consume the added food sources and multiply exponentially
Release enzymes, organic acids, and nutrients
Protozoa – The Nutrient Cyclers
Wake up and multiply rapidly
Feed aggressively on bacteria
Release nutrients—especially plant-available nitrogen
Stabilise bacterial populations during the second day
Fungi – The Soil Architects
Germinate from spores during the brew
Grow hyphae that bind organic particles into flocs
Begin soil aggregation inside the tank itself
Release growth-promoting metabolites
Beneficial Nematodes – The Balancers
Present but do not multiply during brewing
Feed on bacteria, fungi, and protozoa
Release additional nutrients through predation
Together, these organisms form a complete soil food web in liquid form.
The End Result – Biology Plants Recognise
After 48 hours, Compost Tea contains:
Thousands of species
Nearly a billion organisms per millilitre
Nutrients already converted into biologically appropriate forms
This means:
No salt stress
No nutrient lock-up
No forced growth
Reduced pest and disease pressure
Plants evolved to interact with microbes—Compost Tea restores that relationship.
Compost Tea Is Not a Product; It’s a Practice
Farmer Participation Is Essential
Compost Tea is not something you buy off a shelf.
It requires:
An aerobic Compost Tea system
Fresh brewing 48 hours before use
Continuous oxygen supply
Respect for soil function as a core business asset
Because it is alive:
It cannot be stored
It must be applied fresh
It works best as part of a holistic regenerative strategy
A Co-Creative Process
Compost Tea represents a co-creative partnership between:
The farmer – observation, timing, application
Ecosoil – systems, biology, guidance
Nature – intelligence, balance, resilience
When used correctly, Compost Tea helps:
Restore soil structure
Reduce fertiliser and pesticide dependence
Improve water infiltration and drought resilience
Increase long-term profitability
Nature knows best. By working with her rather than against her, soil function can be restored faster than most expect.
Ready to Brew Life Back Into Your Soil?
Compost Tea is one of the most powerful regenerative tools available, when used with understanding and intent.
👉 Speak to Ecosoil about Compost Tea systems, starter and activator programmes, and how to integrate Compost Tea into your regenerative farming strategy.
“It takes only a few years to destroy a functional soil ecosystem — and surprisingly little to restore it.”
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