[TheModfather]

I was digging over a patch of ground yesterday with not a lot growing in it apart from a bit of grass and a lot of weeds in the hope that I could grow my left over potatoes in it. However, as I was digging I could smell diesel in the soil, only in a little area but the soil was definately more grey than usual and was quite oiley. Then I remembered that some diesel was spilt there last year when a open jerry can fell over - about 10 litres!

My question is, although initially covering a small area do you think the diesel will now have been distributed across more ground as its on a slope and the movement of water in the soil may be helping it? Also, I certainly dont intend to grow anything there this year, and as I believe its probably very difficult to get rid of, I just wondered if anybody had had any experiences like this in the past, and if so, could anything ever be safely and succesfully grown there again?

Many thanks.

[Lady Lottie]

What a nightmare to deal with - I have no advice I'm afraid but  hope you manage to get it sorted out.  If it were me, I think the first thing I would do (whilst waiting for some advice from a higher brain power than mine ) would be to dig out as much of the contaminated soil as poss and get rid of it.  What a shame.  Best of luck.

[Lady Lottie]

Found this on another alloment website forum.....

"diesel will kill every plant in that area. If he has been storing fuel there a long time it will be a long way down. I would be tempted to cover the area in builders plastic then build very high raised beds that drain sideways. Give it 5 or 6 years then try a sample throw away deep rooted crop like chard, if it survives use the ground as normal if not then wait another 5 or 6 years.

Other than that just use the uncontaminated part of the plot, but make sure the authorities know of the problem and negotiate another plot or a greatly reduced rent. What the ex plottie has done is against the law, fuel should be stored in a 'tanked' area to contain spills.

The thread continued...the council came to see the plot and arranged to have the contaminated soil removed and replaced with new top soil - so it might be worth advising your council - might save you having to sort it out.

[paintedlady]

Not good news after a web search - seems diesel spillages are difficult to deal with other than dig out the soil.  I did find this article however, about using earthworms ... no idea if it works or not http://careers.uea.ac.uk/showcase/node/59

[TheModfather]

Thanks very much. I will look into it but probably another raised bed is the best way forward. Many thanks.

[Rampant_Weasel]

remove the soil and replace, diesel is the best weedkiller u can get  - kills everything...a bit too well.

[oldbean]

If there was just a few litres of diesel spilt, don't worry too much. dig some rich compost in and the soil bacteria will take care of it. I would even grow things on it as a manure crop and then dig it in. If as you say there was something growing there, it's not all that bad. It only becomes a problem with large amounts, or a chronic leak.

There are absorbent granules you could put in a hole which would perhaps remove some of it. If you want to get rid of the diesely soil, it is a controlled waste, then the environment agency will want to know........it's a nightmare, try the easy way first.

[oldbean]

Edit: get rid of repeat message.

[oldbean]

Have a look at this where you can download the book. On page 57 of edition 3, 

One man who composted a batch of sawdust contaminated with diesel oil said, “We did tests on the compost, and we couldn’t even find the oil!” The
compost had apparently “eaten” it all.65

Ref 65 is "65 - Logan, W.B. (1991). “Rot is Hot.” New York Times Magazine. 9/8/91, Vol. 140, Issue 4871. (p.46)."

[johnnyboy]

It might be a bit late now, but this might help anyone in the future.
If you do spill diesel dig out the soil and mix it with cat litter (yes, cat litter).
Cat litter containers a chemical commonly known as Fullers` Earth. (Fullers Earth is also used in the cleaning up of radio-active spillages, but thats another thing).
The cat litter will absorb the deisel and keep it locked into the granules.

[Gardenmunkey]

No doubt the diesel will spread if there is sub soil movement or water. I would suggest contacting the environment agency for some advice, but that could open a whole lot of questions from them!

You could contact a local oil supplier and ask if they could provide anything ..... I do know that they inroduce a bacteria into the soil to deal with large spills.

Or just try the cat litter ........ sounds promising!

[oldbean]

Just add the soil to your compost heap in layers, it's in the book, and the download's free.