Principles and Practices
Biodynamic farming involves various principles and practices.
Crop rotation
The traditional farming method that involves growing only one crop results in dry and infertile soil without nutrients. However, crop rotation involves growing one crop in a single season and another type in the next season.
For instance, in the first season you can grow crops that release nitrogen into soil and in the next season grow crops that make use of that nutrient.
Crop diversification
Different crops are grown in uncultivated or infertile soil to keep plants healthy. Plant diversification keeps the soil fertile because while some plants use up nutrients in soil, others add nutrients into the soil.
Biodynamic compost
This involves creating compost manure from plant materials to keep the soil fertile and healthy. Organic waste and animal manure are used in the compost to improve the soil’s nitrogen content and enhance crop productivity.
Animal husbandry
Livestock is introduced into the farm to ensure that only organic materials are used to grow crops. This eliminates the need to use inputs from outside the farm. Plants are used to feed the livestock and animal manure used as plant fertilizers.
Lifeforce
What differentiates biodynamic farming from other types of agriculture such as organic gardening is the force of life. This form of farming makes use of the earth’s influences such as physics, chemistry, and biology, including the moon’s seasonal phases and cycles, also known as cosmic forces.
Homeopathy solutions
Crop manure minerals and animal wastes are used to prepare about 10 biodynamic compost. Also known as dynamization, the process involves mixing compost and sprays for use as fertilizers to nourish plants.
Nine bio compost preparations are named from 500 to 508. Two of the composts are used to prevent and reduce fungal diseases from infecting crops. On the other hand, six composts are used in the compost preparation process.