This may be a silly question but

[zigzig]

In 2007 I got a load of manure to make a new bed. It was fairly fresh. Covered it with black plastic and left the work to the worms. They thrived.

I read about the aminopyralid problem and was not sure if the stuff was infected or not.

Well, we got a few courgette/marrow plants too many 2008 so I put them on the bed and they flourished. No weeds grew though, not even grass.

This year I was hoping to put spuds in the same, now lovely, looking well dug soil.

Now for the question.

Do you think it is safe to go ahead?

[zigzig]

[grannyjanny]

Could you ask the farmer who supplied the manure to you?
Janet

[saddad]

Or try the bean test first... if the marrow family do well grow some more of them if you get a bad result with beans/pots.  :-\

[OllieC]

No weeds, not even grass? I thought Aminoetc left grass alone - in fact isn't that the point? ???

[Eristic]

No weeds, not even grass? I thought Aminoetc left grass alone - in fact isn't that the point?

Exactly!

None of my cucurbits suffered at all last year so I think they are also immune. That does not mean to say they don't absorb and hold the poison which may or may not be harmful to human peeps.

[telboy]

Zigzag,
You can but try - go for it - good luck!

[Pescador]

Zigzig,

If you got no weeds on it, it sounds as though you composted it perfectly, getting the temperature up high enough to kill the seeds.
Curcubits are fairly sensitive to herbicides, but you did OK last year.
Sounds as though the manure is fine, but just to double check, why not take a large pot full, (8'' size pot) and put a well chitted spud into it. bring it into the warm, and if possible put a large clear plastic bage over the top, to hold in any gases.
If the leaves are OK in a couple of weeks then you would appear to be clear!!

[Eristic]

We are not talking about herbicides in general but a new and highly selective agent. Grasses can take the full dose with impunity as can certain other plants while others such as tomatos, potatoes, peas and beans are destroyed by the merest residual trace of chemical after it has been absorbed by the grass, passed through a horse and diluted further in the manure.

[zigzig]

My sincere thanks to Pescador and Eristic for sensible responses. I do appreciate what you have told me it has helped my understanding.

Dunno what to make of the other replies. But it is nice to know that I have their thoughts with me. Thanks for caring.

[OllieC]

My sincere thanks to Pescador and Eristic for sensible responses. I do appreciate what you have told me it has helped my understanding.

Dunno what to make of the other replies. But it is nice to know that I have their thoughts with me. Thanks for caring.

The other replies? Well, mine was saying that I thought it's supposed to let grass grow, so if grass isn't growing, you have another problem.

[zigzig]

My sincere thanks to Pescador and Eristic for sensible responses. I do appreciate what you have told me it has helped my understanding.

Dunno what to make of the other replies. But it is nice to know that I have their thoughts with me. Thanks for caring.

The other replies? Well, mine was saying that I thought it's supposed to let grass grow, so if grass isn't growing, you have another problem.

So, exactly what is your useful, constructive response?

[PurpleHeather]

A proper compost heap does not get grass growing on top of it. It is ideal for growing zucchini/courgette/marrow.

[tonybloke]

if you have compostedyour heap properly (it sounds as if you have) the heat will kill any grass seeds, so there wouldn't be any growing on your heap!! ;)

[amphibian]

To summarise...

1. The absence of weeds/grass does not tell you whether the manure is infected or not, because the heap should be free of weeds/grass because of the heat generated when the manure was breaking down.

2. That curcurbits flourished on the heap does not tell you whether it is infected, because they are unaffected by aminopyralid.

So what is needed now is a tester with some plants that are affected by aminopyralid, such as potatoes, tomatoes or beans.

Personally I'd go for beans or toms, in good heat they are very fast to germinate, and it won't matter if they get leggy.

I would take a few large pots of the manure and sow some beans and tomatoes in each, cover and keep a good eye on them.

I would also ask the farmer.

If the farmer is unaware of any aminopyralid use and the toms and beans flourish, then I would think the manure is probably safe for use.

If the beans and tomatoes show aminopyralid is involved then leave the heap to rot further, once all grass residues have rotted away I understand the aminopyralid will dissipate.


Hope that helps.

[OllieC]

My sincere thanks to Pescador and Eristic for sensible responses. I do appreciate what you have told me it has helped my understanding.

Dunno what to make of the other replies. But it is nice to know that I have their thoughts with me. Thanks for caring.

The other replies? Well, mine was saying that I thought it's supposed to let grass grow, so if grass isn't growing, you have another problem.

So, exactly what is your useful, constructive response?

Sorry, have I upset you over something? I am pointing out that you might have more of a problem than just with Aminopyralid, as on it's own it won't stop grass from germinating. You seem to think this is unhelpful... I can only assume that I've managed to upset you somewhere else, in which case I'm sorry, or that you don't quite understand what I mean. Don't ask for thoughts if you don't want them!

[Gbar]

Just come across your request.    Cubits are not very sensitive to aminopyralid but If you dug the manure into the soil during spring/summer 2008 the manure should be well broken down. If this is the case the chemical is released off the manure and breaks down within 4 to 6 days.

If you visit the website Manurematters,com, I know it is produced by Dow, but it does give some good information on the problem and how to test your soil.