adsfadsfd
Newly Registered
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 2:12 pm

anaerobic digestate

I bought 4 bags of Magic Dirt https://www.magic-dirt.com/ organic premium potting soil. And on the bags it says that the product is OMRI certified which is great. I also found that the product is called anaerobic digestate (AD). On their "What's to like" page https://www.magic-dirt.com/about/whats-to-like, it says: "Can be used to grow flowering plants, vegetables and herbs without any added ingredients". There were no further instructions. However when I google for AD, I found this website https://rodaleinstitute.org/anaerobic-digestate/ which says:
Without these specific processing steps, anaerobic digestate derived from manure can only be applied by farmers with a required interval before harvest. These intervals are:
  • Applied to land used for a crop not intended for human consumption,
  • Applied to land 120 days prior to the harvest of products whose edible portion has direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles or,
  • Applied to land 90 days prior to the harvest of products whose edible portion does not have direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles.
It's worrying that this was not mentioned on the bags. But maybe the 120 days period does not apply to Magic Dirt's products. I was wondering if anyone has experience using this product (or any anaerobic digestate products) for growing vegetables and if you have any advice for me. Thanks.

PaulF
Greener Thumb
Posts: 910
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 5:34 pm
Location: Brownville, Ne

There was a similar product sold in Nebraska by the Omaha Public Works called OMAGRO. They composted waste sludge and sold it by the bulk or bag. OMAGRO was composted for at least the 120 day interval. I purchased many bags and spread it on my vegetable garden when it needed a big amount of organics to make a previously unproductive area grow something besides weeds and brush. My garden is now producing pretty good vegetable crops for our consumption with no problems so far as I know.

After a terrific flood several years ago the OMAGRO operation ceased. At the same time there were concerns about the amounts of heavy metals and certain toxins and chemicals contained in the compost. Rather than incur the cost of testing and removal of potential risk the operation remained closed. My soil tests indicated no problems.

Applicator requirements most likely vary from state to state and safety guidelines are good to follow no matter the source and content of compost.



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