So just how good is AD compost?

[Doing it for the kids]

Like many I am sure, I can get AD compost locally.

I am about to do some garden works at home which include new beds / boarders and new hedges. new veg garden on the cards too.

our dirt is tough stuff with a lot of clay in, we are stripping top soil else where which I can bring in to enhance beds but I was wondering what (if any) disadvantages there are in using AD compost to help as a conditioner / slow release fert?

screen shot of an analyse here:

it seems on the face to be good stuff. I imagine there may be some plastic / bottle tops etc which we have seen before which I think I can live with. Its quite course in comparison to a garden centre compost but if I blend with top soil it feels like a good value solution.

what will the weed count be like, I don't think the AD process kills all of them?

advice very welcome, I'm not this scientific but when compared to other examples it seems to hold its own!

 

[sjt01]

Like many I am sure, I can get AD compost locally.

I am about to do some garden works at home which include new beds / boarders and new hedges. new veg garden on the cards too.

our dirt is tough stuff with a lot of clay in, we are stripping top soil else where which I can bring in to enhance beds but I was wondering what (if any) disadvantages there are in using AD compost to help as a conditioner / slow release fert?

screen shot of an analyse here:

View attachment 933667

View attachment 933668

it seems on the face to be good stuff. I imagine there may be some plastic / bottle tops etc which we have seen before which I think I can live with. Its quite course in comparison to a garden centre compost but if I blend with top soil it feels like a good value solution.

what will the weed count be like, I don't think the AD process kills all of them?

advice very welcome, I'm not this scientific but when compared to other examples it seems to hold its own!

AD should kill weeds - there are some studies on the WRAP website. Be a little careful not to use it too concentrated, as it tends to contain highish levels of plant growth hormones which can be a problem if too much is present, but good in small quantities.

 

[nick...]

From what I understand the digestion process does not run hot enough to kill black grass seed.heard this from a few people so assuming it’s true.has anyone had some spread and then get an infestation of black grass
nick...

 

[delilah]

Never mind the analysis, what is the feedstock ? If it is from a farm AD plant with known feedstock then fine. If it is municipal waste/ sewage plant then wouldn't touch it with a barge pole, especially as you mention veg patch etc. The waste industry is using farmland as a dumping ground.

 

[vinnie123]

Bloomin Amazing

Bloomin Amazing™ is a multi-purpose no dig, #peatfree, #mulch, easy feed, soil enricher, with an effective carbon footprint being a by-product from renewable energy. It is lightweight, clean and almost odourless, and with only green material in its make up, it is entirely #organic and #vegan friendl

www.bloominamazing.com

This is from a digester local to us

 

[GeorgeK]

I think it's a good idea, however I question whether the eco credentials are as great as they suggest. Bloomin Amazing use maize for AD but if the digestate goes to gardens as compost the farmland is stripped of organic matter and nutrients. I don't think growing maize for AD and not getting digestate back is particularly sustainable personally. I appreciate the percentage going for compost will be relatively small overall, but the sustainable concept isn't without flaws

 

[delilah]

I think it's a good idea, however I question whether the eco credentials are as great as they suggest. Bloomin Amazing use maize for AD but if the digestate goes to gardens as compost the farmland is stripped of organic matter and nutrients. I don't think growing maize for AD and not getting digestate back is particularly sustainable personally. I appreciate the percentage going for compost will be relatively small overall, but the sustainable concept isn't without flaws

agreed, I would have digestate from a farm plant using slurry, chicken muck etc, but as you say growing crops for it is dubious on environmental and moral grounds.

 

[The Son]

A lot of the local gardiners come and pick up our separated digestate for their gardens, they love it, it has spread by word of mouth. In one village about five miles away in the hills I have a number of green fingered ladies that have 12 tonnes a year each!
Mine is farm based no waste plant though.

 

[Hindsight]

Never mind the analysis, what is the feedstock ? If it is from a farm AD plant with known feedstock then fine. If it is municipal waste/ sewage plant then wouldn't touch it with a barge pole, especially as you mention veg patch etc. The waste industry is using farmland as a dumping ground.

1 Municipal waste - same opinion if it is composted, rather than through an AD plant? A waste being dumped on farm land

2 If as sounds you consider this 'waste' should not be dumped on farmland, I presume you prefer landfill.

 

[delilah]

1 Municipal waste - same opinion if it is composted, rather than through an AD plant? A waste being dumped on farm land

2 If as sounds you consider this 'waste' should not be dumped on farmland, I presume you prefer landfill.

Having for many years run a kerbside collection scheme for kitchen and garden organics, I've a fair understanding that there is compost and there is compost. From a genuine source separation scheme then I would contemplate it. However the way the job has gone, with wheely bin systems that allow no visual inspection and CA site green bins having all manner of crap being thrown in them, no I wouldn't have it on farmland. Sewage sludge, I would say the microplastics is a ticking time bomb.
Use it under turf on landscaping projects, as land raising on former landfill sites to plant trees on, plenty of needs for organic material.

 

[Hjcarter]

Just had a 12t load to try in the alleys in our orchard where we need organic matter to stop the ground draining so quickly.

We got 10 to 30 grade compost, there's loads of coarse material in it and the odd 18in lump of wood and bit of wire.

It'll probably do for what I want but will require walking and cleaning up when its been spread. 0 to 10 would have been better but costs way more.

Preference would be digestate but don't know who's got one round here.

 

[The Son]

Just had a 12t load to try in the alleys in our orchard where we need organic matter to stop the ground draining so quickly.

We got 10 to 30 grade compost, there's loads of coarse material in it and the odd 18in lump of wood and bit of wire.

It'll probably do for what I want but will require walking and cleaning up when its been spread. 0 to 10 would have been better but costs way more.

Preference would be digestate but don't know who's got one round here.

Where are you?

 

[Hjcarter]

Where are you?

Near Castle donington - Notts/ Leics/ Derby border

 

[The Son]

Aah a bit far for me to drop you a load in

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Since learnt that sample is from the garden waste bins, not food waste.
they have spent a lot on kit to remove the plastic etc.

 

[delilah]

and bit of wire.

Only takes one to kill a cow.
I hope that arable farmers, who have made themselves available to the waste industry in this manner, don't regret it as they seek to bring livestock back into their rotation.
Everyone quite rightly gets uppity about Chinese lanterns. Same should be true of what we ourselves put on our land.

 

[Hjcarter]

Only takes one to kill a cow.
I hope that arable farmers, who have made themselves available to the waste industry in this manner, don't regret it as they seek to bring livestock back into their rotation.
Everyone quite rightly gets uppity about Chinese lanterns. Same should be true of what we ourselves put on our land.

Couldn't agree more, I'd never put livestock on it!

 

[stev]

AB produce measham have a digester !

 

[S J H]

Have you got a green waste compost site nearby? That’s what I’ve been using on our garden, I think it’s the second grade screened and it’s been very clean.

 

[Brisel]

Bloomin Amazing

Bloomin Amazing™ is a multi-purpose no dig, #peatfree, #mulch, easy feed, soil enricher, with an effective carbon footprint being a by-product from renewable energy. It is lightweight, clean and almost odourless, and with only green material in its make up, it is entirely #organic and #vegan friendl

www.bloominamazing.com

This is from a digester local to us

Is it all separated? JV Farming do put all the liquor back on the land used to grow the feedstock. There are always tankers on the roads around Dorchester.