Fertilization treatments with biodynamic preparations on several sites showed higher dehydrogenase activities.
Comparing the DOC trial (Therwil, Switzerland), the long-term fertilization trial Darmstadt (Germany) and the K trial (Järna, Sweden) Mäder et al. (1996) concluded that on all three sites the treatments with application of biodynamic preparations showed a more intensive dehydrogenase activity than organic treatments without preparations and even more than mineral treatments. The table presents the results in relation to mineral = 100 %.
|
|
Trial:
|
Therwil
|
Darmstadt
|
Järna
|
|
System
|
Soil type
|
Loamy soil
|
Sandy soil
|
Clayey soil
|
|
|
Biodynamic
|
Treatment
|
D2
|
CMBD
|
K1
|
|
|
DEH
|
198
|
144
|
190
|
|
|
Organic
|
Treatment
|
O2
|
CM
|
K3
|
|
|
DEH
|
169
|
129
|
173
|
|
|
Organic/
|
Treatment
|
C2
|
---
|
K4
|
| Mineral |
DEH
|
125
|
---
|
142
|
|
|
Mineral
|
Treatment
|
M2
|
MIN
|
K7
|
|
|
DEH
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
|
Several components of the treatments used in each trial were different. The biodynamic and the organic treatments represent organic farming, the organic/mineral and the mineral treatments represent conventional farming.
Reference:
MÄDER, P.; PFIFFNER, L.; FLIEßBACH, A.; LÜTZOW, M.v.; MUNCH, J.C. (1996): Soil ecology - The impact of organic and conventional agriculture on soil biota and its significance for soil fertility. Proc. Vol. 1, 11th IFOAM Intern. Sci. Conf., August 11-15, 1996, Copenhagen; 24-46.
Sources of data:
Therwil: 1990/91, 13th and 14th trial year, treatments D2, O2, C2, M2, Mäder et al. (1993); Darmstadt: 1989/90/91, 10th, 11th and 12th trial year, treatments CMBD, CM, MIN, Bachinger (1995); Järna: 1976/85/89, 19th, 28th and 32nd trial year, treatments K1, K3, K4, K7, Pettersson et al. (1992).
