[Digestion] Digestate comparison to liquid worm castings

Tue Dec 6 17:42:30 CST 2011

Thanks David,

Based on this information, it seems likely that the positive results we
have been having with "direct" application of low-dose digestate has really
has an intermediary absorption y evaporation stage as the digestate is
applied to the soil or to the compost int he worm bed.  Our results do not
seem to show the following "collapse" of plants, but we have seen some
impressive growth, particularly in forage plants.

Our current work is trying to establish application rates of digestate on
different crops, with different timing etc. to formalize the use of the
digestate as fertilizer to help promote the technology.  We have been
basing current application rates on macro-nutrient content (as compared to
standard chemical fertilizer application rates), but we have seen that our
results are far better than just macro-nutrient application would imply.
We are digging deeper into micro-nutrients and biological factors to better
understand these results.  Next steps would be guides for adding minerals
or other additives to the digestate to optimize it for different types of
crops at different times in the crop cycle.  We have a good base, but there
are a lot of factors, so any existing work in this field would be really
useful.

Saludos,

A

On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 9:23 AM, davidf at kingdombio.co.uk Fulford <
davidf at kingdombio.co.uk> wrote:

> 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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>
>
> --
> 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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> for more information about digestion, see
> Beginner's Guide to Biogas
> http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/
> and the Biogas Wiki http://biogas.wikispaces.com/
>
>
>

-- 
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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