Compost contamination on the rise again
Hundreds of gardeners are reporting that their home-grown vegetables and flowers have been damaged this year by having been grown in compost contaminated with the weedkiller aminopyralid. Organic-growing charity Garden Organic says the total cases may be higher a s gardeners don’t always realise what is wrong. “We are trying to find out what the scale really is,” says chief executive James Campbell.
Similar problems in the past have been traced to the broadleaf lawn and pasture weedkillers aminopyralid and clopyralid, which were temporarily banned after a notable outbreak in 2008. Traces of the herbicides can pass into grass clippings and manure used to make compost, resulting in distorted, fern-like growth on plants such as potatoes, tomatoes, broad beans, delphiniums and phlox. Gardener and plant supplier Sarah Raven cancelled dahlia trials at her East Sussex garden in 2018 after using compost containing contaminated horse manure, while Somerset market gardener and ‘no dig’ pioneer Charles Dowding lost a crop of broad beans, this summer. “All the leaves came up shrivelled and curling,” he said.
Since sharing his loss on social media, Charles has been contacted by gardeners who suspect that their crops have been affected. Some unsubstantiated reports have linked damaged plants with major brands of bagged multipurpose compost. Industry body Growing Media Association says similar symptoms can be caused by high salt levels and aphids, but GMA chair Neil Bragg says he will raise the issue in talks with the government. “Unless we do something about the root cause, it’s going to get worse,” he said.
Herbicide manufacturer Corteva, which supplies aminopyralid and clopyralid, says three quarters of the cases it has investigated to date were not caused by aminopyralid, but adds it will continue to follow up all reports received.
Garden Organic is asking gardeners to report suspected aminopyralid poisoning to the Health & Safety Executive (CRDEnforcement@ hse.gov.uk) and Corteva (UKHotline@corteva. com). “We want to bring more pressure to bear so there is more meaningful change,” says James Campbell, ”and to do this we need the evidence.”
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The GMA will raise the issue with the government