Biodynamic Farming

1. SUBMITTED BY
552-561
RAWE PROGRAMME AND AIA 2022-23
MODULE – 4 ( AGROCLINIC – 1 )
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2. “Biodynamic farming is an organic farming method
combining ancient lunar planting cycles with the use of
natural alternatives to everything that conventional
farming has normalised”
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3. INTRODUCTION
 Father of Bio-dynamics: Dr. Rudolf Steiner (1924)
 Greek word; Bios= life, dynamos= energy
 Agriculture science that recognises basic principles at work in
nature and applies this knowledge of life forces to bring
about balance and healing in the soil
 Anthroposophy
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4. FEATURES OF BIODYNAMIC FARMING
 Maintaining the soil fertility and preventing the soil erosion
 Keeping the harmony between mankind and ecology
 Maintaining the habitats and diversity of the plants and animals
 Diversification of crops
 Avoid use of treatments with chemicals and inputs which are not
prepared on the farm
 Crop protection with things available at the farm
 Weed control with proper planning
 Works in rhythm with earth and cosmos
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5. PRINCIPLES OF BIODYNAMIC FARMING
 Crop diversification
 Crop rotation
 Animal husbandry
 Biodynamic compost
 Solutions using Homeopathy
 Life forces
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6. BIODYNAMIC PREPARATIONS
BD Preparations Uses
BD 500 Horn manure Soil biological activity
BD 501 Horn silica Plant resilience
BD 502 Yarrow K and S processes
BD 503 Chamomile Ca and K Processes
BD 504 Stinging nettle N Management
BD 505 Oak bark Ca processes
BD 506 Dandelion Si Management
BD 507 Valerian P Processes
BD 508 Casuarina tree To control fungus
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7. Horn manure(BD 500) Horn Silica(BD 501)
Chamomile( BD 503)
Yarrow( BD 502)
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8. Stinging nettle(
BD 504)
Dandelion (BD 506)
Valerian(BD
507)
Casuarina( BD
508)
Oak bark(
BD 505)
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9. BIODYNAMIC COMPOST
 Way to recycle animal manures and organic wastes and
enhance soil health
 The technique is unique because it is made with BD
preparation 502-507
 Mixture of protein rich (60%)and carbon rich materials (40%)
 Application 10 t /acre
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10. LIQUID MANURES
 Extensively used in cropping and fruit production
 Supply nutrients during transition period when changing to an
organic management system
 Prepare from locally available materials which are fermented
with BD preparation 502-507
 Most liquid manures takes 8-12 weeks to get ready
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11. PEPPERING
 Reduce the incidence of weeds, insects and rodents
PREPARATION
• Collect seeds/roots up to 2 days prior to a Full Moon day, light a
wood fire
• Place seeds or roots into a small tin
• Collect the ash and grind with a mortar and pestle for 10 minutes
• Spray it on the field
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12. PLANTING CALENDAR
 Biodynamic approach considers that there are lunar and
astrological influences on soil and plant
development and harvest of various
crops
 The biodynamic farmer works
primarily with 6 different moon
rhythms that recur every 27 to 29
days
 Rhythmic is entrained to the movement
of the moon and the tides, cosmic, solar,
lunar, and earthly rhythms
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13.  Planting calendar rhythms:
1. Full moon – New moon
2. Moon opposite Saturn
3. Ascending descending moon
4. Moon nodes
5. Apogee – Perigee
6. Moon in zodiac constellation
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14. New Moon Full Moon
 Avoid sowing seeds
 Felling timber
 Seed collection for sowing and
preserving
 Sowing seeds and application
of liquid manures (48 hours
before)
 Panchagavyam can be sprayed
 B.D 501 (horn silica) can be
sprayed for fungal control
1. Full moon and new moon
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15. 2. Moon Opposite Saturn
 Moon and Saturn are standing opposite side to earth at 180° and
this occurs in 27.5 days
 The moon forces bring in the calcium processes which are
connected to propagation and growth forms, while the Saturn forces
bring in the silica processes (cosmic) which are connected to the
building up substance or bulk of the plant in the root leaf and fruit
 Germinate and soak seeds
 Seed sowing and transplanting
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16. Descending days
 Transplanting the seedlings
 Making composts
 Compost application to the
field
 Ploughing
 Liquid manure application in
the soil
 Harvesting bulbs and roots
Ascending days
 Sowing
 Foliar spray
 Harvesting leafy vegetables
and fruits
3. Ascending and descending moon
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17. 4. Moon node ( Rahu and Ketu)
 The moon crosses the path of the sun and the crossing points are
called as nodes and these are the places and times were the
eclipses can occur .
 The influence of the nodes lasts for approximately 6 hours
before and 6 hours after exact time of crossing during which
important agricultural activities need to be avoided
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18. 5. Apogee - Perigee
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19. 6. Moon in zodiac constellation
 Zodiac is a belt of fixed stars that are in groupings we
call as constellations
 Influence of constellations are
passed on reflected by the moon,
through the 4 classical elements of
nature – fire, light ,water and earth
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20. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
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22. ADVANTAGES
 Ensure high soil fertility
 Produce best and quality food for humans
 Higher earthworm abundance in soil
 Higher yield
 Sustain soil productivity as well as plant, animal and human
health
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23. DISADVANTAGES
 Lack scientific evidence for its efficacy
 Require knowledge on stars, moon, alignments etc.
 BD spray preparations are time consuming
 Raw materials for homeopathic preparations will not be
available everywhere
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24. CONCLUSION
 In Biodynamic farming, farmer is considered as a spiritual care
taker of the land
 The farmer has direct experience of the rhythms of the season
and intimate communications with the smallest of organisms
unseen in the soil to the largest of organisms such as farm
itself
 Biodynamic farming helps in rejuvenating the soil and ensure
sustainability of crop production and quality
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25. REFERENCE
 TNAU Agritech Portal
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26. THANK YOU
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