[USCC] Fire ants and compost blankets

[Slagle, Jody]

Craig,

In Austin we have had anecdotal reports of reduction of fire ants where
our Dillo Dirt compost was used (made from biosolids and yard trimmings)
both in park areas and residences.  We are doing a study now with the
County Extension Service to see if we can determine whether there seems
to be a real effect or not (but no results on that yet).

You might check with the Soil Food Web folks in Oregon to see if they
have documented anything.  At the least, based on our experience, I
wouldn't expect an increase in the fireants from a biosolids compost.

Let us know what you find and your experience with this.

Jody Slagle
City of Austin

-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at composter.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at composter.com] On Behalf Of Craig Coker
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 8:23 AM
To: US Composting Council Compost Discussion List
Subject: [USCC] Fire ants and compost blankets

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Hello colleagues:

 

A client of mine is considering use of a yard waste compost as an
erosion
control blanket on the closed-out portions of a MSW landfill.  They have
a
fire ant infestation problem at the site and in this community and I've
been
asked if the compost blanket would encourage spread of the fire ant
invasion.

 

A quick lit search on the 'Net suggests that compost tea is useful in
fire
ant control (Texas Coop Extension) and that microbes and fungi in the
compost are predatory to fire ants (a commercial gardening web site).

 

Does anyone have any real experience with the impact of 2"-4" compost
blankets on fire ants? Will it cause the infestation to spread?  Or are
these info sources correct, that perhaps the leaching of compost
nutrients
and microbes/fungi into the soil beneath the blanket will be inhibitory
to
fire ants?

 

Many thanks,

Craig

 

Craig Coker

Coker Composting & Consulting

3331 Glade Creek Blvd.

Ste. 7

Roanoke, VA  24012

(540) 904-2698

Fax: (540) 904-6732

Cell: (540) 874-5168

craigcoker at cox.net

www.cokercompost.com

 

 

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