Testing For Any Remaining Herbicide

[GoDawgs]

At the end of last season all of that herbicide-tainted compost that ruined the potted tomatoes was dumped in a pile with the thought that maybe a year's rain and further composting would leach away the problem. So yesterday I filled a 3 gallon pot with it and planted some Provider bean seeds in it. Bean seed is supposed to be really sensitive to herbicide and so is a good indicator if there's any still there.

We'll see what happens. I'm really hoping the soil is good to use so I can amend some quick draining nursery mix I'll be getting this year.

[Paulf]

Hopefully your situation will be resolved. I had a similar fiasco with tainted straw mulch. At the end of last growing season all the bad straw was removed and I tried the bean thing. They did germinate and grow so maybe the herbicide has been reduced enough for a good growing season. Good luck with your garden.

[JRinPA]

How old do you think the tainted compost actually was? I don't remember the specifics.

The township stuff I get is supposed to be 5 years old. I've never had a problem with it, but I'm sure there are some herbicides in there, since lawn clippings are a part of it. I've never been concerned about it before...

[karstopography]

https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/ ... ides-faq#1

https://theprepared.com/blog/aminopyral ... 20at%20all.

A couple of links exploring herbicide contamination in materials used in home gardens and some testing protocols to determine if your soil is free from meaningful contamination.

[Paulf]

Excellent information…thanks. In 50 years of gardening last year was the first experience with herbicide tainted compost or mulch. Hopefully the last.

[Hornad]

What was the specific herbicide? Different herbicides break down faster in aerobic or anaerobic environments or sometimes alternating cycles of each.

[GoDawgs]

What was the specific herbicide? Different herbicides break down faster in aerobic or anaerobic environments or sometimes alternating cycles of each.

I can't tell you as I wasn't going to fork out $150 each for three different tests at a lab. But the damage was definitely from herbicide, says the Extension agent.