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Biodynamic farming significantly leads to better soil agregate stability and microbiological activity of soil bacteria

Created by Laila Grillo | |   Viticulture
A group of researchers lead by Jürgen Fritz of the University of Bonn studied the effect of the biodynamic preparations horn manure and horn silicate on the aggregate stability of viticulture soils in the Bourgogne region in France. They results of the study show a better soil structure and higher microbial activity of soil bacteries in the studied soil samples. The signal-like function of molecules within the soil microbiome can be recognized again as demonstrated in the study of Giannattasio et al. (2013) which can be found on this website as well. Remark: Dear reader, Due to copy right reasons we agreed with the author that only the abstract of the article will be published in English. The full article is available in the journal Biological Agriculture & Horticulture.

A field study was set up to investigate the effects of biodynamic preparations based on horn manure and horn silica (BD) on soil structure in five vineyards located on different soil types in Burgundy. The underlying hypothesis was that biodynamic preparations increase aggregate stability and improve soil structure. The results showed that the stability of soil aggregates during wet sieving was not different in the treatment with biodynamic preparations (BD+), compared to the one without (BD-). According to the visual assessment (VESS), improvements in soil structure in the BD+ treatment, compared to the BD- treatment, were not significant for macropores/biopores, block fall test for the upper horizon or colour of the lower horizon, but significant improvements were observed for the fall test on the lower horizon (p = 0. 009), upper horizon colour (p < 0.000), root penetration (p = 0.017), surface structure (stable aggregates, little encrustation, p = 0.006), upper horizon structure (p = 0.030), subsoil structure (p < 0.000), and the change in colour from upper horizon to subsoil occurred at a greater depth (p = 0.049) Based on the previously reported results, which show significant changes in soil microbial activity in the BD+ treatment, and using the same soil samples, it is possible that the observed differences in soil structure between BD+ and BD- are related to differences in microbial activity.

 

Authors:

Fritz J, Lauer F, Wilkening A, Masson P,  Peth S 2021. Biological Agriculture & Horticulture,

 

Titel:

Agregate Stability and Visual Evaluation  of soil structure in biodynamic cultivation in Burgundy vineyard soils. 

 

Link:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01448765.2021.1929480

 

Figure 1 : Photos du diagnostic à la bêche (a et b) et du test de chute (c). Exemples : site A1, paire d’échantillons 3 (a et c (gauche)) et site B, paire d’échantillons 9 (b et c (droite). du site B, paire d’échantillons 9 (b et c (droite)), sans (BD-) et avec application de préparations biodynamiques (BD+).
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