For what ist's worth, the USDA Honey Bee Lab in Madison, about 20+ years
ago, did a large, controled study using various amounts of composted slumgum
as a mulch for vegetables. (composted by this definition was that it had sat
outside, in a large pile, for at least 2 years). We used small plots with
tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, zukes, and green and lima beans. We used
rates of slumgum at 100 lbs/ac., 200 lbs./ac and 500 lbs./ac. (of course we
didn't use that much because the plots were small). Other treatments were
straw mulch, peatmoss as a soil amendment, composted leaves at the same
rates, all with fertilizer at soil analysis recommended rates, all without
fertilizer and fertilizer only. Across the board the plots with slumgum out
performed comparable plots in yield, vigor (measured as health of the plants
relative to pests and disease), earliness of production and length of
production.
Bottom line, if you have a lot of this stuff, it works well as a soil
amendment for vegetable gardens.

Kim Flottum
Editor, BeeCulture
623 West Liberty Street
Medina, Ohio  44256
V - 800.289.7668 Ext 3214
Fax - 330.725.5624
[log in to unmask]
www.BeeCulture.com

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