Combined biodynamic 'compost preparations' 502 - 507

Ripening (57)

After Voegele administered a seed bath of 500, 503 and 505, more 'earthly' calcium-type grwoth developed, the wheat became more bulky and horizontally orientated. On the other hand when he administered 501, 506 and 507, the wheat growth became more of the vertically-orientated, 'cosmic' silica type. (29)

Weakened plant metabolism (1056)

Root length density increased by 48% and root weight by 17% compared to raw manure and un-prepared manure. No increase in yield (of proso millet) (29)

... as an effect of the compost preparations, the roots go far deeper in the soil, are far more finely distributed and make use therefore of a much larger soil volume. (1871)

the quantity of roots was more or less the same in all three sections, but in the biodynamic section the amount of fine roots, root hairs, was doubled in comparison to the mineral section (1871)

..relatively high dressings of biodynamically treated slurry not only produced corresponding yields of clover grass but also a high percentage of clover in turf. (29)

Mr Rasmussen (Secretary of the bio-dynamic work in Denmark)- "FOR several years we have used widely the Preparations 502-507 as a spray directly to the plants. (Prep 502-506 stirred for one hour, and 507 only the last 15 minutes, in the same water. About 2 sets of Preparations per acre.) We have found this application to be highly effective against most symptoms of what me be described as a weakened metabolism in plants, showing itself in discolouration, or lack of natural colour. ... with 1 or 2 (in very difficult cases even 3) applications of 502-507, prepared as described above, and applied in intervals of 4 or 5 days, the discolouration disappears and the plants regain their natural colour. (1056)

When sprayed over strawberry plants these have grown very strongly but not produced much blossom. Perhaps this is too one-sided and needed 501 to balance it. (57)

When stirred in water for one hour and sprayed over tomatoes plants this has cured green back and uneven ripening in tomatoes. One portion to 2-3 gallons of water. (57)

Not quite so certain but an immense help is the application of 502-507 to tomatoes against 'green heads' but here it must be applied several times. Then only a few tomatoes will be left who will not show full red colour. (1056)

The [field spray] preparations tend to encourage whichever pole they govern and not to harmonise and balance the activity of the spiritual bodies. So their use, particularly 501, should be made with discretion. The compost preparations act as a 'second tier' of the same activity. From the model [spiral astrology] it is apparent that the 'outer planet' preparations are associated with the silica prep. and the 'inner planet' preparations work with the manure prep. The compost preps work more specifically thatn the 500 and 501 and appear softer in their action. They appear to do the job of bringing any specific activity into the right relationship with the others, without affecting the essential nature of the plant, so these preprations can be considered tools of dynamic husbandry. (48)

preparations 502-507 strengthen the plants in general in their growth. (1041)

Water extracts of finished composts were then used to fertigate wheat seedlings, with and without added inorganic fertilizer. BD-treated mixtures had significantly greater dehydrogenase activity than did untreated (control) mixtures during composting, suggesting greater microbial activity in BD-treated compost. In both years there was a distinct compost effect on wheat shoot and root biomass irrespective of supplemental fertilizer. Shoot biomass was highest in all treatments receiving 1% compost extract. Wheat seedlings that received 1% compost extract in 2005 grew similar root and shoot biomass as fertilized seedlings, despite only containing 30% as much nitrogen as the fertilizer treatment. In both years seedlings that received fertilizer plus 1% compost extract produced 22-61% more shoot biomass and 40- 66% more root biomass than seedlings that received fertilizer alone, even at higher rates. In 2002 a 1% extract of BD compost grew 7% taller wheat seedlings than did 1% extract of untreated compost. At 0.1% only BD extract grew taller plants than water, but in 2002 only. No effect on shoot or root biomass was seen at 0.1%. (1644)

Soil leaching (29)

Mineral availability (197)

Respiration without mineralisation (1871)

N2 fixation and decomposition of cellulose was strongest following soil dressings with biodynamic composts. (29)

the release of carbon dioxide produced by the roots and microbes, highest in the biodynamic section. This normally indicates an was the immense decomposition of organic matter. But here there was a greatly increased respiration at the same time maintaining a higher humus content! (1871)

Preparations 502-507 can be diluted in the same fashion as 500 and sprayed on the land in the spring or just before or just after seeding (sowing). They make available the otherwise unavailable part of the minerals, especially the phosphorus and potash in the soil. One gets a quick and fast growth of grain, a kind of pushing action, and is enabled to beat the weather. Here we can compete with mineral fertilisers. Analyses supporting this statement will soon be published. This procedure, however, is a two edged sword. For it will, if applied to a poor soil, deplete the soil. It will work only on improved soils with live organic matter. (197)

... the humus content after eight years remained the same in the biodynamic sections as it was under normal biodynamic conditions at the beginning of the experiment. In contrast to it the humus content of the organic plots dropped considerably and even more in the mineral plots. In the organic plots the same amount of compost was applied, with the same nitrogen level preparations. as on the biodynamic plots, but without the compost The organic sections had a higher humus content than the mineral plots, where the nitrogen had been added in an equal amount. So all the plots had the same amount of nitrogen added, but in different forms. Merely by applying the preparations to the compost used in the BD plots over eight years, the humus content had comparatively increased, not only in the top soil but also in the subsoil. (1871)

Abele (1987) using 3 kg soil columns, measured nitrate leaching over 16 days from fertiliser, compost and biodynamic compost giving 45.8 mg, 34.0 mg and 27.5 mg respectively. (29)

A further effect of 500 is a change in structure of the soil, with an increase of porosity. This effect ... is produced ... by the preparations 502-507 if diluted and used as sprays. This was discovered in the laboratory incidentally. It is a remarkable discovery. (197)

Fields which do not get manured in one particular year can still receive the benefit of these preparations if we stir them in water for one hour as we do 500 and 501. In fact they are best stirred together with 500. The symtoms of deficiency diseases (manganese, potassium) will disappear... we use one portion (1-2g) of each preparation per four gallons of water. More dos not make the spray more effective, repetition does. (57)

.. the preparations are applied straight to the dung in the cowshed. .. the loss of nitrogen is reduced 10-15%. In the dry substance .. we have 2% nitrogen compared with 0.7% formerly (192)

Researches have shown that, during the rotting process, the bacterial content of such a manure pile is 10 times that of one not treated in this way. Especially noticeable is the presence of a large number of earthworms (1041)

Enhancement of nutrients and maturation of compost were studied between normal compost heap and compost heap inoculated with biodynamic herbal preparations (BD502-BD507). The compost heap inoculated with BD herbal preparations reduced the time of compost maturity and enhanced the nutrients significantly. The biodynamic compost such as BDC, BDCV-II and BDCV-I recorded for a significant reduction of C: N ratio (13:1, 14:1 and 12:1) on day 105 whereas the compost without BD herbal preparations recorded for high level of C: N ratio (19:1) on day 105. (1567)

[Do...] biodynamic preparations (CMBD treatment) cause positive effects additional to those of composted cattle farmyard manure fertilization (CM treatment)? ..... Application of biodynamic preparations did not cause any positive effects additional to those of composted farmyard manure fertilization. In the CM and CMBD treatments, bacterial PLFA content was 33% higher than in the MIN treatment, whereas bacterial muramic acid (MurN) content was 55% higher. The AMF indicator PLFA 16:1ω5 as well as neutral lipid fatty acid (NLFA) 16:1ω5 were both increased by roughly 80%, as the NLFA/PLFA ratio of 16:1ω5 varied only in a small range around 3.8. This indicates negligible interference from bacteria, suggesting that PLFA 16:1ω5 is a suitable marker for AMF biomass in soil. The indicators for saprotrophic fungi, the ergosterol content and the contribution of 18:2ω6,9 to total PLFA (mol%) were 40 and 60% higher, respectively, in the CM and CMBD than in the MIN treatments. In contrast, fungal GlcN was not affected by the fertilizer treatments. An increased ergosterol/fungal GlcN ratio indicates a shift in fungal community from AMF towards saprotrophic fungi in arable soils. (1612)

Grape pomace and manure compost treated with biodynamic preparations 502 through 507 showed increased ammonium concentration, higher dehydrogenase activity and increased growth response of wheat seedlings in 2002. Compost in 2003 developed a high pH, lost substantial N, and supported less aerobic microbial activity. The biodynamic preparations were not shown to have an effect during these adverse composting conditions. (1645)

Final samples of BD treated compost had 65% more nitrate than the control piles. (1647)

Humus creation (57)

Odour (191)

Stablisation (301)

The small particles of manure within the body of the liquid manure ... can be transformed into humus but only under the influence of the compost preparations. The visible sign of this transformation is the change of colour. The opaque yellow liquid becomes clear and light brown. (57)

Most striking was the effect of the preparations upon liquid manure. [Herr Schwarz] had two tubs completely surrounded with earth (but not dug in). In eight weeks the "prepared" liquid manure was odourless and looked like black coffee without any sediment, while after the same time the untreated liquid had not yet settled at all and overflowed in the hot weather. (301)

The effluent changes into a mild, pleasant-smelling liquid manure, stimulating in its effect; the asphyxiating smell of the ammonia is no longer there. After about 6 weeks the the matured liquid is ready for use. When it is prepared in this way there is no rank growth as there is when liquid animal effluent is applied directly. (191)