Evaluation of some biodynamic applications on cotton, sesame and wheat under Egyptian conditions
Dr. Zakaria El-Haddad
Professor of Agriculture Engineering and Systems, Banha Univ. Egypt, Director of the Egyptian Biodynamic Association, Sekem group
Presented in the International conference of “Plant nutrient management under stress conditions”, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt, November 2008.
4- Discussion and conclusion
The yield increase was 40, 27 and 59% for the three crops respectively, as a result of applying the three tested parameters i.e. timing the operations with the biodynamic calendar, applying BD500 and BD501. These results agree with the reported figures of Maria Thun (2003) which indicate that timing cultivation activities according to biodynamic calendar significantly increased crop yield by 11, 20, 44 and 83% for sunflower, canola, clover and strawberries respectively.
European research on the biodynamic preparations shows an affects on soil structure, root development, yield and crop quality. The influence of the timing the operation with the calendar alone increased yield by 17% for both cotton and sesame trails .The difference of the yield of the two crops between the full package and the calendar alone is the biodynamic preparation Applying horn preparation has increased yield by 27%, 46%, 7% and 13% for potato, onion, beans and cucumber. For same crops applying quartz preparation increased yield by 21, 20, 25 and 31 % respectively (M. Thun 2003)
De Vries (1988) reported a balanced development of grass in spring and a stimulation of grass growth in autumn after applying the field –spays 500 and 501. Von Mackesen (1994) studied the effects of the preparation on strawberries and reported a rich setting of a fruit, good aroma and fungus free growth 30 higher yields, and 8-10 days earlier harvest when the horn silica preparation was sprayed after harvest of the last crop and not in spring. He discussed the polar effects of this preparation as related to environmental factors of soil, light, intensity and moisture. by stimulating one phase in the plants growth one can help the polar opposite phase to reach its full potential (Von Mackensen 1994) Bloksma ,(1995) found that young apple trees in pots in a nursery showed more balanced growth and developed less side branches if the preparation 500 and 501 were applied
Crop yield and root growth were studied in a 6- year trail comparing conventional, organic and biodynamic methods of fertilization. Intense use of a set of preparations, including a nettle-containing compound preparation, was found to have a balancing effect on the yield of maize and winter wheat, this effect may have been caused by greater root growth and improved root health. Goldstein .Wand .Barber, 2005
In the cotton tried increasing the number of quartz application (BD501) from 3 to 5 times increased yield production by almost 10 % also changing the timing of the application in the wheat has shifted the yield increase from grain to straw. These results need further investigation. Bisterbosch(1994) found in her research on lettuce , which included extensive phenomenological observation and food tests , that application of preparation 500 and 501 more than once during the growth season negatively affected product quality . She concluded that a healthy ordering of live processes was disturbed
From the previous results the full package of the biodynamic applications, i.e. following the agenda timing and applying the preparations gave very significant increase in all measures parameters for the three crops, cotton, and sesame and wheat
Further research should be conducted to show how the preparations function, to better understand how they produce such great influence on crop productivity,