DOCTORAL SEMINAR II

on

BIODYNAMIC FARMING

PRESENTED BY:
ANU NAWHAL
21PHAGRN103
Ph.D in Agronomy
Department of Agronomy
SHUATS, Prayagraj 1
 INTRODUCTION
Biodynamic agriculture was started in 1924.
Rudolf Steiner: Father of biodynamic farming
First modern organic agriculture.
It is based on Anthroposophy.
The oldest biodynamic farms are the Wurzerhof in Austria and
Marienhohe in Germany.

Biodynamic farming
History

Origin of a Geographic
theory development
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 ANTROPOSOPHY
The word “Anthroposophy” comes
from the Greek language, and means
“wisdom of the human being”.
“ A path of knowledge whose
objective is to guide the spiritual in
man to the spiritual in the universe”.
This wisdom ultimately leads to the
connection of the spiritual in the
human being to the spiritual, which
pervades the universe.
BIODYNAMICS
☼ Biodynamics derived from two Greek
words, bios- life and dynamos-energy.
☼ Biodynamics refers to a “working with
the energies which create and maintain
life”.
☼ It is a method of farming that aims to
treatment of the farm as a living system
which interacts with the environment,
to build healthy living soil, and to
produce food that nourishes, vitalizes
and helps to develop humanity.
☼ The bio-dynamic idea of the farm as an
‘organism’ or living entity.
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Principle of Biodynamic Farming
Weed, Soil
Organic
Pests and
Diseases matter

Substance
and Humus
energy

Biodynamic
The farm Farming Cow
organism manure

Cosmic
Peppering
forces
BD
Crop
preparati
rotation
ons
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 Advantages of Biodynamic Farming

1. Production of top quality produce.

2. It improves the quality and health of soil.
3. The cost of production is reduced.
4. New crops are produced that are resistant to pests, tolerant to climatic
changes.
5. It helps us in understanding the importance of microorganisms.
6. Less trouble with livestock and plant diseases.
7. Farm generated waste can be reutilized in farm itself
8. No spreading of insect pests, and no great economic damage.
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 How is biodynamic different from organic?

1. Every biodynamic farms aims to become self-sufficient in compost,

manures and animal feeds.
2. All external inputs are kept to minimum.
3. Compost is treated with special herb-based preparations.
4. Crop quality is improved using natural manure and quartz based
preparation.
5. Ecological diversity is a goal of landscape management.
6. An astronomical calendar is used to determine auspicious planting,
cultivating and harvesting time.
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 Components of Biodynamic
Farming

Biodynamic Planting Seed

Preparation Calendar Production

Field manure

Compost manure

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 BIODYNAMIC PREPARATIONS
S.No. Biodynamic Materials Method Application Effects/Results
Preparations
1. BD 500 > Cow - Fill cow horn with cow dung in oct/nov - Mix 25g BD 500/ acre in - Promotes root
(Cow horn horns - Place horns in burial pit of 18in deep. 15lts rain/pure warm activity
manure) > 50- 150 Keeping base downwards and 1 inch apart water. - Stimulate soil
g Cow from each other, surround with 50% - Stir for 1hr alternatively micro-life
dung/horn compost and soil. in clockwise and -Regulates lime and
(depends - Keep pit soil moist and shaded, free from anticlockwise direction nitrogen
on horn weeds and earthworm forming a vortex - Helps to release
size) - After 4 months check dung fermentation - Spray in late afternoon trace elements
-If dung colour turns brown from green, or evening, when moon is -Increases
than BD 500 is ready. descending. germination

2. BD 501 > Cow - Grind silica quartz into fine powder, - Apply 501 only after one - Enhances light
(Cow horn horn make stiff paste of it to two applications of BD metabolism,
silica) > Silica - Fill horns with silica paste 500, during ascending photosynthesis and
quartz - Bury these horns in soil pit, 1in apart moon or moon opposition chlorophyll
crystal with base downward, surround with 50% Saturn - Helps to improve
(200-300 compost and soil from March/April to Sept - Mix 1g BD 501/ 15lts colour, aroma,
g/horn) water, stir for 1hr, flavour and keeping
alternatively in clockwise quality of plants.
and anticlockwise forming
a vortex.

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 COMPOST PREPARATIONS
S.No. Prep. Herb or material Relationship to processes of Planet Result

1. 502 Yarrow flower Sulphur (S), Potassium (K) Venus Permits plant to attract trace elements in
(Achiliea millifolium) and trace elements extremely dilute quantities for best nutrition

2. 503 Chamomile flower Calcium (Ca), Sulphur (S) Mercury Stabilizes nitrogen (N) within the compost and
(Matricuria chamomilia) increases soil life so as to stimulate plant growth

3. 504 Stinging Nettle (Utrica Sulphur (S), Potassium (K), Mars - Stimulates soil health, by providing plants with
parvifora) Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe) the individual nutrition components needed,
‘enlivens’ the earth.

4. 505 Oak Bark (Quercus glauca) Calcium (Ca) Moon Provides healing forces (or qualities) to combat
harmful plant diseases
5. 506 Dandelion flower Silicon (Si) or Silicic acid, Jupitor Stimulates relation between Si and K so that the
(Taraxicum officinalis) Potassium (K) Si can attract cosmic forces to the soil
6. 507 Valerian flower (Valeriana Phosphorus (P) Saturn Stimulates compost so that Phosphorus
officinalis) components is property used by the soil

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Astronomical Planting Calendar & RYTHMS
Appropriate time for farm work
Activity Celestial Event
Cultivation & field preparation, compost making ▼ Descending moon
and spreading
▲ Ascending moon; Suitable moon constellation-
earth, water, air, fire (depending on crop type- root,
Sown seeds leafy, flowering, fruit or seed plant); 48 hours before
ⵔ full moon (Poornima); Moon opposite Saturn
Avoid moon node; Apogee; Perigee; ● New moon
Sowing tuber crops Apogee
Transplanting, seedling; Pot plant: Trees and ▼ Descending moon
Shrubs
Moon in Air sign; ⵔ full moon (Poornima); ▼
Pruning- Flowering plants Descending moon
Grafting ▲ Ascending moon
Do in Moon in air and fire sign constellation; ▲
Ascending moon
Harvesting
Avoid in ⵔ full moon (Poornima); Perigee; Moon in
water sign constellation
Do in ▼ Descending moon; Moon in earth sign
constellation; but potato in Apogee
Harvesting root crop
Avoid in ⵔ full moon (Poornima); Perigee; Moon in
water sign constellation
Harvest other crops ▲ Ascending moon
Storage of grains and seeds Moon in fire sign constellation
Fungal control Moon opposite Saturn
BD 500 application ▼ Descending moon period
BD 501 application ▲ Ascending moon, Moon opposite Saturn
Liquid manure application Before ⵔ full moon (Poornima) 10
 SEED PRODUCTION
Biodynamic Agriculture has focused on the open pollination of
seeds (with farmers thereby generally growing their own seed)
and the development of locally adapted varieties.

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RESEARCHES
On
BIODYNAMIC
FARMING 12
TABLE 1. Mean values of soils data from adjacent paddock and plant
data from pot trials, New South Wales Farm, Australia

Source: Reganold., 1995 13

TABLE 2. Yield performance of vegetables under biodynamic farming
system
Treatments Potato (t/ha) Carrot (t/ha) Cabbage (t/ha) French bean (t/ha)

Irrigated Rainfed Irrigated Rainfed Irrigated Rainfed Irrigated Rainfed

Biodynamic 38.1 21.2 38.8 22.2 72.7 40.8 26.4 17.4

Conventional 34.5 19.1 33.1 18.6 62.3 31.8 21.2 14.2

Biodynamic + 32.0 16.8 32.7 17.9 59.4 25.1 15.4 10.2

Conventional

Absolute 23.1 12.7 20.6 14.1 40.9 15.1 12.2 7.8

control

C.D. at 0.05 3.83 2.42 3.65 2.98 2.63 3.41 2.03 1.90

Source: Nabi et al., 2017 14

TABLE 3. Effect of biodynamic farming system on nutritive value of
carrot (irrigated)

Treatment Carbohydrates Protein Vitamin C Carotene

(g/100g) (g/100g) mg/100g (mg/100g)

Biodynamic 20.4 1.5 19.5 8.2

Conventional 12.8 0.9 11.2 4.51

Biodynamic + 12.0 0.9 11.0 4.48

Conventional
Absolute 10.8 0.8 10.0 4.40
control

Source: Nabi et al., 2017 15

TABLE 4. Net profit in cultivation of vegetables under biodynamic
farming system
S.No. Crop Net profit in irrigated season Net profit in rainfed season
(Rs.) (Rs.)
Biodynamic Conventional Biodynamic Conventional

1 Potato 1,10,000 45,000 60,000 16,500

2 Cabbage 2,32,450 1,00,200 87,100 6,900

3 Carrot 2,90,000 93,200 1,25,000 14,100

4 French 1,97,000 50,300 85,000 16,600

bean

Source: Nabi et al., 2017 16

TABLE 5. Gross revenue, expenses and profits of biodynamic and
conventional farms
Farm size: 10-20 ha 20-30 ha 30-40 ha
Biodynamic Conventional Biodynamic Conventional Biodynamic Conventional

Number of farms 4 928 4 1,689 4 1,612

Average size of 17.7 16.2 22.1 25.0 38.4 37.6
farms (ha)

Gross revenue 6,369 6,625 6,874 5,774 3,507 4,689

(DM/ha/yr)

Expenses 3,934 5,093 3,713 4,505 2,415 3,755

(DM/ha/yr)

Profit DM/ha/yr) 2,435 1,532 3,161 1,269 1,092 934

Source: Reganold., 1995 17

 CONCLUSION
Biodynamic farming is not the concept which can be learnt from
textbooks, it sensed through experiencing it. It is more than a body
of information. In this farming, farmers is considered as a spiritual
caretaker of the land. Farmer has direct experience of the rhythms
of the seasons and intimate communication with the smallest of
organisms unseen in the soil to the largest of organisms, such as the
farm itself. It helps in rejuvenating the soil and ensure
sustainability of crop production and quality. It is a scientifically
sound approach to sustainable management of plant systems.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
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