Researchers at Cornell University have discovered a way to turn Zebra mussels from Lake Erie into a valuable compost for crop production. In the latest edition of Acres USA magazine, writer Maria Dimengo reports on her experience growing peppers in soil prepared with compost from Zebra mussels.
“The plants with the shells yielded peppers that were longer, stronger and wider. In addition, plants with the shells had multiple yields.”
Cornell recommends a co-composting mixture of 1:14:17:18 parts by weight of peat, sawdust, poultry litter and water could be made then mixed 1:1 with zebra mussels. An equal volume of wood chips was then added. After three months of composting and maturing, the wood chips were screened out, and the compost was mixed with top soil.
More info: http://compost.css.cornell.edu/zebra.html
