[Digestion] Digestate comparison to liquid worm castings

Mon Dec 5 10:23:39 CST 2011

Jim, Alexander and listers,

Biogas effluent straight from the digester is likely to contain hydrogen 
sulphiode, which is very poisonous and is likely to kill worms. It is 
always recommended that fertilizer be "matured" to allow such nasties to 
evaporate. 

Absorbing the slurry in solid material for further composting allows such 
maturation. Some of the microbes in the slurry convert the hydrogen 
suplphide into sulphur in the presence of air. Leaving the slurry to mature 
gives them time to do this. Natural sulphur acts as a fungicide and also 
helps the soil. 

Using effluent direct from the plant also allows ammonia to reach the 
growing plants quickly. They tend to grow fast and then collapse. Raw 
ammonia probably also has a bad effect on worms. Maturation without 
absorbtion allows the ammonia to evaporate. Absorbtion allows the ammonia 
to react with sodium or potassium in the dry material to form salts which 
are absorbed less quickly by plants and are less likely to affect worms.   

Best wishes,

David F.

----------------------------------------
From: "Alexander Eaton" <alex at sistemabiobolsa.com>
Sent: 05 December 2011 14:53
To: "For Discussion of Anaerobic Digestion" 
<digestion at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: Re: [Digestion] Digestate comparison to liquid worm castings 

Jim, 
We have applied digestate from cows to the leading edge of the worm worm 
bin (where fresh waste goes) and we have not seen worms die or a reduction 
in their consumption.  This was with low doses.  We have never applied it 
directly onto worms, but it does not surprise me that it would kill them or 
have a negative effect.  We are trying to determine whether or not worms 
will then destroy any pathogens or if the biol has a positive effect on the 
quality of the worm castings.  We are two months in, with preliminary 
results suggesting a reduction in pathogens, and nothing definitive 
regarding quality based on high levels of fluctuation. 

Best, 
A   

On Sun, Dec 4, 2011 at 10:58 PM, Jim McNelly <jim at composter.com> wrote:

On Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 1:46 PM, Wayne Zschech 
<waynezschech at calvarychapel.com> wrote:

G'day All!

I know that the quality of the liquid digestate as a fertiliser depends on 
the type of feedstock ingredients. However, as a generalisation (or with 
specifics) how does our liquid digestate compare to liquid worm castings?  
Is the digestate even close to the 'potency' of the worm castings?  Also 
when comparing the standard NPK values of inorganic fertiliser is there a 
rule of thumb that allows digestate to 'compete' with them even though the 
NPK values are much higher in the inorganic fertiliser?  This will help me 
in talking to farmers when talk about the benefits of our product as 
instead of fresh manure or chemicals.

Blessings,
Wayne

___ Have you actually tried to take the filtrate or digestate and feed it 
directly to earthworms? I have. It kills them within hours.  You can 
analyze it all you want, but just do this one thing.  Actually feed it to 
earthworms and see for yourself what happens.

 -- 

Jim McNelly

Renewable Carbon Management, LLC
44 28th Ave N Suite J
Saint Cloud MN 56303
320-253-5076

www.composter.com

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for more information about digestion, see

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-- 
Alexander Eaton
Sistema Biobolsa
IRRI-Mexico
RedBioLAC

Mex cel: (55) 11522786
US cel: 970 275 4505

alex at irrimexico.org

alex at sistemabiobolsa.com

sistemabiobolsa.com
www.irrimexico.org

www.redbiolac.org

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