Regen Ag and Biosolids

[Banana Bar]

I understand the need to feed the soil biology and do so with a few cover crops and plenty of chicken manure. I will be planting a lot more cc this autumn.
Do Biosolids ( treated sewage sludge/ digested sewage ) feed the biology or is it just a good source of P? We have used sludge in quantities of around 5000 t / yr for over 15 years and it’s benefit in P is huge but other benefits I’m unsure of.

BB

 

[JD6920s]

There is N available, and surely the sludge helps increase organic matter

 

[Michael S]

And just to stir it up a little what do people think about the micro plastics contained in biosolids? I know one conventional tillage farmer that has got such cold feet about the plastics issue that he has stopped using biosolids and is genuinely fearful that the long term damage is done.

 

[Tractor Tim]

We questioned our supplier about micro plastics to be fair to him he admitted they had a problem but as of yet they haven't found a workable solution. Had some effluent from a anerobic food digester and that stuff is like rocket fuel just a shame the umbilical lads can't spread it evenly

 

[Banana Bar]

And just to stir it up a little what do people think about the micro plastics contained in biosolids? I know one conventional tillage farmer that has got such cold feet about the plastics issue that he has stopped using biosolids and is genuinely fearful that the long term damage is done.

This is a concern of mine too.

 

[Classichay]

Food waste is a no no I’m my books I’ve seen the aftermath of a food Depackaging unit into an AD they physically cannot get rid of the plastics in the material once it goes through the screw press it’s In the system. The lagoon was full of micro plastic and the issue with the digestate was they couldn’t export it as it was just glistening with plastic, metal etc it had to go to incineration what they didn’t spread ( very little, I’d guess over 10 years of this a soil analysis would show foreign materials quite high).

 

[Ffermer Bach]

And just to stir it up a little what do people think about the micro plastics contained in biosolids? I know one conventional tillage farmer that has got such cold feet about the plastics issue that he has stopped using biosolids and is genuinely fearful that the long term damage is done.

I can't remember who, maybe Nicole Masters, but I saw a youtube clip of a soils/regen ag expert, and she was asked would she use Bio Solids and her unequivocal advice was no, definitely not.

 

[DRC]

So will the non use of sewage sludge cake be a requirement of the new Elms standards .

 

[Classichay]

So will the non use of sewage sludge cake be a requirement of the new Elms standards .

I’d assume so as they want to decrease heavy metal build up as part of that frame work.

 

[Flat 10]

So will the non use of sewage sludge cake be a requirement of the new Elms standards .

It needs to go somewhere.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

so, why is it full of heavy metals then? As far as the micro plastics go, that is a problem for the water companies to sort out isn't it.

 

[Birch Solutions]

I understand the need to feed the soil biology and do so with a few cover crops and plenty of chicken manure. I will be planting a lot more cc this autumn.
Do Biosolids ( treated sewage sludge/ digested sewage ) feed the biology or is it just a good source of P? We have used sludge in quantities of around 5000 t / yr for over 15 years and it’s benefit in P is huge but other benefits I’m unsure of.

BB

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