Is anyone using Biosolids? Cancel The title field is required!

1. Douglas Eggert

   

   1 posts
   
   1/17/2012 10:01 AM

   Is anyone using biosolids and what are the processes in the application to your turf are you doing? IE type of spreader? Amounts? Issues?
   
   Thanks.

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   1/17/2012 2:01 PM

   All the time. We try to have some in stock for slow days, then send a guy out to bury any area that needs it. We've been using mostly in rough areas along cart paths, green and tee walk-ups and anywhere that could use some more organic material to hold moisture. Even used it on Nematode hot spots after aerifying. Poke holes, dump some on the ground, and drag it in. Now that we have been on this program for several years, our weak areas just aren't weak anymore. We use all kinds of spreaders, but I've found to get the best results, applying large volumes works best. Therefore, we use a Lely wide open, low RPM and drive slow. Or, we set up our Toro ProPass to throw a heavy swath 15' wide or so and just bury it. Another good spreader is the EZ-Spread 4-wheeler electric spreader from Northern. Rigged up to clamp to the back of a Carry-all provides the perfect width for along cart paths. I love using it on par 3 and driving range tees to compensate for the heavy amount of sand topdressing applied to fill divots. Also great to absorb afternoon heat in the winter months to promote early green-up. Got 12 tons of it here now waiting to go out when we get a chance.
   
   Only issue is the smell after it has been watered. But to me, it smells like a paycheck.

   
   
   
   
3. Andrew Cross

   

   5 posts
   
   1/17/2012 3:01 PM

   Doug,
   
   Get in touch with Dave Ward, down at Coyote Run. I know he uses them for his fall topdressing. He should be able to help you immensely. He is a great guy to talk to and very helpful.

   
   
   
   
4. Samuel Wood

   

   1 posts
   
   1/18/2012 3:01 PM

   I am also talking to my local municipality about their biosolids. Andy, are you using these year round or just during the growing season? I know your season is long but how long are you semi-dormant/dormant? I am in Central NC and am dormant about 5 months. I would like to apply in early spring during slow play but am concerned about smell and dissipation of the solids. How have your complaints been? Rates? Just curious. Thanks for the input.
   
   Samuel Wood
   Zebulon Country Club

   
   
   
   
5. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   1/18/2012 6:01 PM

   Samuel Wood said: I am also talking to my local municipality about their biosolids. Andy, are you using these year round or just during the growing season? I know your season is long but how long are you semi-dormant/dormant? I am in Central NC and am dormant about 5 months. I would like to apply in early spring during slow play but am concerned about smell and dissipation of the solids. How have your complaints been? Rates? Just curious. Thanks for the input.
   
   Samuel Wood
   Zebulon Country Club

   
   
   We use these year round. We never go fully dormant, but do turn brown for a few weeks. I think that is the best time to apply so the food is sitting when the turf decides to start growing. Kind of like a dormant feeding. Winter is also a good time to put it out since you don't have nearly as many people on the course to smell it. The smell dissipates, but the results stick around for years. The worse complaints we have gotten is when I had the bright, genius idea to mix in with our divot mix. Would have been perfect, except the sand/sludge mix sat in a pile behind the cart barn and just fermented. Eventually had to just dump about three yards to get rid of the stench. But, as long as you are spreading, the smell only sticks around a few days.
   
   Rates? Bury it. We apply until the ground is black. If I had to guess....1,000#/ac.

   
   
   
   
6. Fleegel Timothy

   
   1/18/2012 8:01 PM

   Andy do you do anything to keep people off of it? Water it in right away or just wait?

   
   
   
   
7. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   1/19/2012 5:01 AM

   Timothy Fleegel said: Andy do you do anything to keep people off of it? Water it in right away or just wait?

   
   
   This stuff doesn't burn. They can trample it all they want. In fact, that helps break it down since it arrives as a pellet. We water it in whenever we run again.
   
   We even injected it into a green with a Dryject machine. See photo here: http://digitalgcm.gcsaa.org/DigitalAnywhere/viewer.aspx?id=22&pageId=32

   
   
   
   
8. Justin Murray

   

   0 posts
   
   1/19/2012 11:01 AM

   We use it everywhere except greens. Like Andy, rates are 1000#-1500#/Acre. I hire a spreader truck to apply our bulk areas and we use our Turfco top dresser to apply to tees. Top dress our driving range tee, par 3 and weak tees with it. Mowing has to be done dry or it cakes up on the rollers. Usually after three or four mowing's with water in between helps break it down. I apply around May-June. Members know we do it every year and have learned to get over the smell.
   
   Things I learned, Do Not Apply to clubhouse lawn before a wedding or big event. Also do not store in the parking lot of the clubhouse.

   
   
   
   
9. Fleegel Timothy

   
   1/19/2012 11:01 AM

   I'll look into getting some from my local municipality. What are some cost estimates?

   
   
   
   
10. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    1/19/2012 11:01 AM

    Timothy Fleegel said: I'll look into getting some from my local municipality. What are some cost estimates?

    
    
    Anywhere from $185 - $250 ton, depending on how much you buy and how it is packaged. Usually a 6-3-0 or 5-2-0 depending on the source.

    
    
    
    
11. Curtis Nickerson

    

    0 posts
    
    1/20/2012 4:01 AM

    Andy,
    Who do you get yours from?
    Thanks

    
    
    
    
12. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    1/20/2012 5:01 AM

    Green Edge, Pro Plus, Diamond R, Howard, Harrells, Golf Ventures....they all have it. The last batch I got was from Pro Plus, buy 4 get 1 free.
    
    Let's try this again....municipalities are full of product right now since snowbird season and turf season don't coincide. They are looking to get rid of it so it's not filling up their parking lot. Some deals to be made....

    
    
    
    
13. Keith Fellenstein

    

    0 posts
    
    1/20/2012 10:01 AM

    1 - 1.25 lbs N most years on Bermuda. Got away from it when freight made it less competitive with synthetics and regretted it immediately. Even some of the compost around here mixes a little in with more traditional composting materials. Great for building soils, just wish it had some K and less P. Still, any downside are outweighed by benefits. Plan to expand the program to cool-season this fall.

    
    
    
    
14. Keith Fellenstein

    

    0 posts
    
    1/20/2012 10:01 AM

    Forgot to mention, purchased large bulk spreader years ago and use a drop type topdresser around edge of greens.

    
    
    
    
15. Robert Crockett

    

    4 posts
    
    1/25/2012 11:01 AM

    Douglas Eggert said: Is anyone using biosolids and what are the processes in the application to your turf are you doing? IE type of spreader? Amounts? Issues?
    
    Thanks.

    
    After all the research,I'm looking @ Biosolids for our course now. We're doing a $10,000,000 upgrade to our water treatment facility....so I know it would be some really good $#%*

    
    
    
    
16. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    1/25/2012 3:01 PM

    After all the research,I'm looking @ Biosolids for our course now. We're doing a $10,000,000 upgrade to our water treatment facility....so I know it would be some really good $#%*
    
    Good luck, we revamped our system last year to a hefty tune in order to hook to reclaimed water. To put in a proccesing plant, drier, pelletizer etc...for the 50 or so tons a year we produce of sludge, the cost didn't outweigh the output. The additional $3,000,000 or so for the plant got pushed out....for now. I'd love to send my guys over the the plant to pick up the "free" fertilizer.