Comparison of composted manure and plant based organic fertilizer
Subject, design, site conditions
with information about fertilization and crop rotation
Animal husbandry is an essential element of biodynamic agriculture. The positive effects of farmyard manure on soil life and soil fertility have been carefully demonstrated in a number of investigations. However, it is unknown whether plant based organic fertilizers have comparable effects in the long run. Thus, important information is lacking to evaluate the feasibility of stockless organic farming in the long run.
Since 1996 this experiment compares plant based organic fertilizers, farmyard manure and inorganic fertilizers in a rotation with 4 crops. The organic treatments are applied both with and without biodynamic preparations. The 7 fertilization treatments are arranged in a randomized block design with 6 replications:
| Acronym | Fertilization | Nitrogen (kg ha-1 N) |
| CM1 | composted manure and urine | 100 |
| CMBD1 | composted manure and urine with all biodynamic preparations | 100 |
| PO | plant based organic fertilizer | 100 |
| POBD | plant based organic fertilizer with all biodynamic preparations | 100 |
| MIN | mineral fertilizer | 100 |
| CM2 | composted manure, high rate | 170 |
| CMBD2 | composted manure with all biodynamic preparations, high rate | 170 |
Site conditions:
49° N, 8° E; 100 m above sea level; annual means: 9,5°C and 590 mm precipitation; Eutric Cambisol.
This table shows the cultivated crops and the plant based fertilizers used in all years.
| Year | Crop | Plant based fertilizer |
| 1996 | Lupine, L. angustifolius | --- |
| 1997 | Fallow with vegetation cover | --- |
| 1998 | Winter rye | Maltaflor |
| 1999 | Clover grass ley | --- |
| 2000 | Spring wheat | Maltaflor |
| 2001 | Potato | Dried legume meal |
| 2002 | Winter rye | Dried legume meal |
| 2003 | Clover grass ley | --- |
| 2004 | Spring wheat | Faba bean meal |
| 2005 | Potato | Faba bean meal |
| 2006 | Winter rye | Faba bean meal |
| 2007 | Red clover | --- |
| 2008 | Red clover | --- |