Evaluation of biodynamic farming practices on crop yield and soil biological properties

Abstract:

Think of biodynamic farming as organic agriculture's more spiritual cousin: it follows all the organic rules but adds a layer of preparations made from herbs, minerals, and animal materials, applied according to astronomical calendars. Skeptics dismiss it as pseudoscience; proponents claim it builds soil life faster than standard organic methods. This research compared biodynamic, organic, and conventional management systems over four seasons (kharif and rabi 2021-2023) in a rice-pulse rotation at Vikram Dev Agricultural College, Jeypore, Odisha. A randomised complete block design with four replications was used. After two years, biodynamic plots showed 39% higher soil microbial biomass carbon (284 vs 204 mg/kg under organic) and 57% more earthworms (24.6 vs 15.7/m2) than organic plots. However, grain yield under biodynamic management was 12-18% lower than conventional and 3-7% lower than organic across seasons. Dehydrogenase and phosphatase enzyme activities were highest under biodynamic management. These data suggest that biodynamic practices accelerate soil biological recovery but at a yield cost that farmers must weigh against potential premium prices.