Dried Distillers Grain in Vegetable Production

With increasing growth in ethanol sector there is availability of Dried Distillers Grain (a by-or co-product of ethanol). Most Dried Distillers Grain with Soluble (DDGS) is used as animal feed but our lab is exploring options to utilize DDGS as an amendment to supply nutrients to growing transplants. Results indicate that DDGS increases medium EC but relatively low effect on pH. Significant inhibition of seed germination was also observed when DDGS was mixed at 5 or 10% rate in the medium. Seedling biomass increased at 2.5% rate of DDGS. Our lab is also studying soil incorporation of DDGS in field tomato and eggplant production.