Save the lesser quality compost for soil applications and use only the best for compost tea production. Even so, the typical representation of microorganisms in compost tea differs from the original compost. Some types of microorganisms like to live attached to particulate matter and a compost tea made using a fine mesh strainer popular for tea destined for drip irrigation, doesn't let a sufficient amount of particulate matter through to support these microorganisms. The beneficial fungi and actinomycetes prominent in a good compost may be poorly represented in the compost tea simply due to the necessity of straining out the material to which they would attach due to the demands of the irrigation system equipment. Keep in mind that compost tea microbiology is most impacted by oxygen availability, nutrient availability and the initial microbiology of the compost used to make the tea.
Compost tea is analyzed for the same microbiological parameters as compost.
This includes beneficial microorganisms including aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, pseudomonads and nitrogen fixing bacteria, as well as pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella. Keep in mind that compost tea microbiology is most influenced by oxygen availability, nutrient availability, and the initial microbiology of the compost used to make the tea. For best results, it should be used as soon as possible and should be stored in a shaded area with agitation and ventilation to the tank. Long storage times will negatively impact the diversity of microorganisms as well as the nutrients carried by the tea for plant use. Compost teas are applied either to the soil or to the plant foliage.