AD Plants Digestate

[steveR]

I was having a chat last weekend with a neighbour and we we were talking about AD plants and their feedstock requirements and more pertinently, what quantities of digestate are likely to be returned to farm. Specifically in relation to bringing back OM to feed subsequent crops and the land.

What sort of arrangements are the norm between Grower and the AD plant operator?

 

[ploughman1963]

Not sure what arrangements are the norm between grower and AD plant but in some areas its getting to be a waste issue for some AD plants. Plenty of digestate available for the cost of hauling now - I suspect you will soon see the AD plants paying the haulage if you will take ther waste product

 

[steveR]

Not sure what arrangements are the norm between grower and AD plant but in some areas its getting to be a waste issue for some AD plants. Plenty of digestate available for the cost of hauling now - I suspect you will soon see the AD plants paying the haulage if you will take ther waste product

Sounds positive.... for the Grower! Looking at a few options for the future.

I guess it will all depend on the availability of spare land on farm, but could well be worth it!

 

[deleted user 837354]

Any new AD plant needs to consider how much land it needs and then multiply it by 4. You can poison the land with excessive digestate applications.

 

[ploughman1963]

Any new AD plant needs to consider how much land it needs and then multiply it by 4. You can poison the land with excessive digestate applications.

My point exactly- digestate becomes a problem for AD plants after a while - indices on their own land 4 and rising means they need land to get rid of it. @steveR don’t need to grow crops for an AD to have digestate available to you

 

[Werzle]

Not sure what arrangements are the norm between grower and AD plant but in some areas its getting to be a waste issue for some AD plants. Plenty of digestate available for the cost of hauling now - I suspect you will soon see the AD plants paying the haulage if you will take ther waste product

Poultry litters going the same way, almost!

 

[Mc115reed]

Not sure what arrangements are the norm between grower and AD plant but in some areas its getting to be a waste issue for some AD plants. Plenty of digestate available for the cost of hauling now - I suspect you will soon see the AD plants paying the haulage if you will take ther waste product

People round you are charging for it?!?!? Farmers being paid £2 a ton to take it round here! And they still struggle too get rid of the bloody stuff

 

[teslacoils]

Going to be more interesting this year as no crops to put it on.

 

[steveR]

Any new AD plant needs to consider how much land it needs and then multiply it by 4. You can poison the land with excessive digestate applications.

Same as poultry muck then.

I remember as a Young Lad (decades ago) the Boss on the farm I was in training on bought a new "big" rear discharge spreader for the poultry muck. There was some issues with "calibrating" the machine... Suffice to say the gain from the poultry muck was easily counteracted by the damage caused by overdosing! Made my overbanding of Nitram with a Tasker, look relatively modest in comparison!

 

[steveR]

My point exactly- digestate becomes a problem for AD plants after a while - indices on their own land 4 and rising means they need land to get rid of it. @steveR don’t need to grow crops for an AD to have digestate available to you

I'll have to tap into the local grapevine and suss out what's happening. We are not overdone around me with AD plants, to the best of my knowledge..

 

[deleted user 837354]

Same as poultry muck then.

I remember as a Young Lad (decades ago) the Boss on the farm I was in training on bought a new "big" rear discharge spreader for the poultry muck. There was some issues with "calibrating" the machine... Suffice to say the gain from the poultry muck was easily counteracted by the damage caused by overdosing! Made overbanding of Nitram look modest!

If you are nearby a source of these materials it would easily pay for a very bling spreader of your own. There should be no need to ever buy P and K again and probably sizeable savings on bagged N. I've certainly grown full yield crops with virtually no bagged N.

 

[steveR]

If you are nearby a source of these materials it would easily pay for a very bling spreader of your own. There should be no need to ever buy P and K again and probably sizeable savings on bagged N. I've certainly grown full yield crops with virtually no bagged N.

What is it like on grassland? I can't say I have ever knowingly seen the stuff!

I think my 2 cuM spreader would need upgrading!! I keep it for spreading FYM on grassland with little damage or compaction.... A nice rear discharge would be a nice toy, although I used to hire in a machine for bigger tonnages.

Used to use huge quantities of liquid treated sewage in the 80's and 90s, which did wonders for the P indices. Very little N required for many crops, especially when we started top dressing cereals with a 6m boom and umbilical setup, the liquid was pumped direct from the works, 4-500m away.

 

[Loftyrules]

Are you able to variably apply it based on off take in relation to yield maps from the crop grown for the AD plant?

 

[steveR]

My point exactly- digestate becomes a problem for AD plants after a while - indices on their own land 4 and rising means they need land to get rid of it. @steveR don’t need to grow crops for an AD to have digestate available to you

Blimey, that is a huge lift in P. What are the increases of K like?

 

[teslacoils]

What is it like on grassland? I can't say I have ever knowingly seen the stuff!

Liquid digestate? It's brilliant. Although may have to go on after first cut due to soft ground.

 

[deleted user 837354]

What is it like on grassland? I can't say I have ever knowingly seen the stuff!

I think my 2 cuM spreader would need upgrading!! I keep it for spreading FYM on grassland with little damage or compaction.... A nice rear discharge would be a nice toy, although I used to hire in a machine for bigger tonnages.

Used to use huge quantities of liquid treated sewage in the 80's and 90s, which did wonders for the P indices. Very little N required for many crops, especially when we started top dressing cereals with a 6m boom and umbilical setup, the liquid was pumped direct from the works, 4-500m away.

Digestate varies from plant to plant but it is often pretty potent stuff, can contain a lot of available N.

The trick is not to blat the soils with huge doses that mess with your soil chemistry.

 

[steveR]

Digestate varies from plant to plant but it is often pretty potent stuff, can contain a lot of available N.

The trick is not to blat the soils with huge doses that mess with your soil chemistry.

Thanks for that. Like sewage sludge and chicken muck then, little and now and then...

 

[steveR]

Liquid digestate? It's brilliant. Although may have to go on after first cut due to soft ground.

And solid? It does come as a solid??

 

[Gee]

And solid? It does come as a solid??

The solid digestate is good for adding some fibre to your soil but has limited nutritional benefits. The liquid is what you want.

 

[steveR]

The solid digestate is good for adding some fibre to your soil but has limited nutritional benefits. The liquid is what you want.

Cheers. the solid could be dumped anytime which has benefits in itself! Looking to "improve" some very sandy land...

Is there any published info on digestate analysis.

Can see I need to do some nosing around locally... Thanks