Knotweed as Biomass

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Knotweed as Biomass
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Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 14 3:24 pm Post subject: Knotweed as Biomass

We all know about the growth rate of knotweed, so why can't it be used as fuel?
I am not suggesting that anybody starts growing it, but there is plenty of it that people are failing to stop from growing...
I've done a brief google and the first result is an April fool, and subsequent ones seem to refer to that...

I'd guess that the best way would be anaerobic digestion: that would be fairly sure to kill it.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4627
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 14 3:56 pm Post subject:
Gut reaction is that it would be too dangerous to harvest and transport it, given how easily a tiny snippet can cause chaos. The shoots are said to be tasty though, if there's a local patch

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 14 4:16 pm Post subject:

NorthernMonkeyGirl wrote:

Gut reaction is that it would be too dangerous to harvest and transport it, given how easily a tiny snippet can cause chaos.

I'd thought of that: just set up a small digestor on site.

john of wessex

Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Posts: 2130

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 14 9:34 pm Post subject:
See https://www.gov.uk/japanese-knotweed-giant-hogweed-and-other-invasive-plants

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46192
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 14 6:43 am Post subject:
i recon the rules might prevent what seems sensible when it is growing tis very wet so mincing it and digesting seems possible but tis also very rot proof so it might kill the digester bugs

LynneA

Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 4893
Location: London N21

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 14 6:59 am Post subject:
Network Rail seems content to chop it down and leave it where it falls. Have yet to see a trackside fire as a consequence.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon May 26, 14 12:02 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

i recon the rules might prevent what seems sensible

when it is growing tis very wet so mincing it and digesting seems possible but tis also very rot proof so it might kill the digester bugs

Something must digest it else all that has grown so far would still be with us.
I reckon it is worth the experiment... I'll put it on the list.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46192
Location: yes

Posted: Mon May 26, 14 6:34 pm Post subject:
the stalks will burn when dried (late autumn) and seem also to rot from that state the roots seem indestructible

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon May 26, 14 7:21 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

the roots seem indestructible

What have you tried?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46192
Location: yes

Posted: Mon May 26, 14 9:49 pm Post subject:
poison,burning in situ ,drowning

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon May 26, 14 9:54 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

poison,burning in situ ,drowning

Drowning?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46192
Location: yes

Posted: Mon May 26, 14 9:56 pm Post subject:
a while in a barrel of water didnt kill it

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon May 26, 14 10:20 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

a while in a barrel of water didnt kill it

Killing it off is a separate issue: it isn't going to come out of the digester alive.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Tue May 27, 14 5:02 am Post subject:

My son works for a small company that specializes in eradicating knotweed. It's a very expensive business and they use potent chemicals in conjunction with mechanical removal to get rid of it (digging out and sifting soil down to a couple of metres). They also do work for Network Rail (but I'm sure they don't leave it lying around).
Some people might get a little alarmed living next to a knotweed 'plantation' -mortgage providers in particular.
But you're right about its potential in terms of growth.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Tue May 27, 14 8:46 am Post subject:

OtleyLad wrote:

Some people might get a little alarmed living next to a knotweed 'plantation'...

There is no suggestion that it should be planted, or even that existing infestations should not be poisoned, only that where there is one, here is a potentially useful means of disposing of it.

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