Effects of farmyard manure compost and biodynamic preparations
Long-term trial at IBDF Darmstadt (since 1980)
Treatments
Design: 9 treatments (3 types of fertilizer at 3 levels) with 4 replicates; split block design
| 1. factor: type of fertilizer | CM | cattle manure (composted)* | ||
| CMBD | cattle manure (composted) with all biodynamic preparations (500 and 501 sprayed on the plots, 502-507 applied to the manure) * | |||
| MIN | mineral fertilizer (calcium ammonium nitrate, super phosphate, potassium chloride, since 1996 potassium magnesia) | |||
| 2. factor: rate of fertilizer application | low | 50% of medium | ||
| medium | according to normal farming practice | |||
| high | 150% of medium | |||
| The levels depended upon the particular focus of each period (see below). | ||||
| * From 1980 to 1984 and in 1988 and 1989 supplemented in single cases by liquid manure, castor or horn meal; since 1990 in each year liquid manure was used as second N portion to cereals. | ||||
Experimental periods and research focuses:
| 1980 - 1984 | 1988 - 1991 | 1992 - 1999 | ab 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research focus | Food Quality | Soil biology | Yield formation and long-term effects | Stability of soil organic matter level with changed fertilization |
Scientific head | Dr. Ulf Abele | Dr. Johann Bachinger | Dr. Joachim Raupp | Dr. Joachim Raupp |
| Calculation basis of fertilizer amounts | Equivalent yields in CM and MIN (fertilizer amounts) | same N amounts in CM, CMBD and MIN (fertilizer amounts) | same N amounts in CM, CMBD and MIN (fertilizer amounts) | as before at the medium level |
| Crop rotation | Carrots Beetroot Potatoes Winter rye | Red clover (alfalfa) Spring wheat Potatoes (carrots) Winter rye | Red clover (Pers. clover) Spring wheat Potatoes Winter rye | as before |