Soil Fertility and Mineral Nutrition of a Biodynamic Avocado Plantation in Tenerife

Garcı́a, Carlos; Álvarez, Carlos E.; Carracedo, A. E.; Iglesias, Edelmiro López

doi:10.1080/01448765.1989.9754497

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Garcia et al (1989) studied soil fertility and foliar composition on a 5-year old, 6-ha biodynamic avocado plantation in Tenerife (largest of the Canary Islands). They compared the results with similar soil data (gathered 5 years earlier) from 31 conventional avocado plantations and similar foliar data from 15 plantations.…”

Section: Soil Quality Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil quality and profitability of biodynamic and conventional farming systems: A review

Reganold

1995

Am J Alt Ag

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Biodynamic and organic farming are similar in that both are ecologically oriented and do not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The main difference is that biodynamic farmers add eight specific amendments, called preparations, to their soils, crops, and composts. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in biodynamic farming practices and systems because they show potential for mitigating some detrimental effects of chemical-dependent conventional agriculture. Only a few studies examining biodynamic methods or comparing biodynamic farming with other farming systems have been published in the refereed scientific literature, especially in English. This paper summarizes data from previous studies, both published and unpublished (theses), that have compared biodynamic and conventional farming systems with respect to soil quality or profitability. These studies have shown that the biodynamic farming systems generally have better soil quality, lower crop yields, and equal or higher net returns per hectare than their conventional counterparts. Two studies that included organic management treatments with and without the preparations showed that the preparations improved biological soil properties and increased crop root growth. However, more research is needed to determine whether the preparations affect soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and crop growth and, if so, their mode of action.

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Section: Soil Quality Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil quality and profitability of biodynamic and conventional farming systems: A review

Reganold

1995

Am J Alt Ag

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“…Changes in other soil properties have been found to be more variable, perhaps due to differences in climate, crop rotation, soil type, or length of time a soil has been under organic management (Lockeretz et al, 1981;Drinkwater et al, 1995;Werner, 1997). Generally, soil pH is higher and plant-available nutrients, particularly K, may be greater under organic management (Reganold, 1988;Garcia et al, 1989;Drinkwater et al, 1995). Because these soil properties are critical in determining the fertility of agricultural soils, the ability to predict and manage their dynamics and intensity in time and space will facilitate the transition to organic and low-input farming practices.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Soil Chemical Properties Resulting from Organic and Low‐Input Farming Practices

et al. 1998

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Soil chemical properties during the transition from conventional to organic and low‐input farming practices were studied over 8 yr in California's Sacramento Valley to document changes in soil fertility status and nutrient storage. Four farming systems differing in crop rotation and external inputs were established on land previously managed conventionally. Fertility in the organic system depended on animal manure applications and winter cover crops; the two conventional systems received synthetic fertilizer inputs; the low‐input system used cover crops and animal manure during the first 3 yr and cover crops and synthetic fertilizer for the remaining 5 yr. At 4 and 8 yr after establishment, most changes in soil chemical properties were consistent with predictions based on nutrient budgets. Inputs of C, P, K, Ca, and Mg were higher in the organic and low‐input systems as a result of manure applications and cover crop incorporations. After 4 yr, soils in the organic and low‐input systems had higher soil organic C, soluble P, exchangeable K, and pH. Ceasing manure applications in the low‐input system in Year 4 resulted in declining levels of organic C, soluble P, and exchangeable K. Crop rotation (the presence or absence of corn) also had a significant effect on organic C levels. Differences in total N appeared to be related in part to inputs, but perhaps also to differing efficiency of the farming systems at storing excess N inputs: the low‐input system appeared to be most efficient, and the conventional systems were least efficient. Electrical conductivity (EC), soluble Ca, and soluble Mg levels were tightly linked but not consistently different among treatments. Relatively stable EC levels in the organic system indicate that animal manures did not increase salinity. Overall, our findings indicate that organic and lowinput farming in the Sacramento Valley result in small but important increases in soil organic C and larger pools of stored nutrients, which are critical for long‐term fertility maintenance.

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“…Planete en spesifiek die maan het volgens die denkskool 'n invloed op gewasse. Hiervolgens bestaan daar 'n verwantskap tussen die sinodiese maanritme, plantdatums en gewasgroei (Garcia et al, 1989:1).…”

Section: Biodinamiese Landbouunclassified

Die Daarstelling Van 'N Konseptuele Raamwerk Vir Volhoubare Landbou

Lyons

Lombard

1992

Agrekon

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Die doel van die artikel is om die verwarring wat bestaan oor die betekenis van volhoubare landbou ("sustainable agriculture") op te klaar. Ten einde die vraagstuk aan te spreek is 'n konseptuele raamwerk daargestel waarvolgens die evaluering en beplanning van landboustelsels kan plaasvind. Hierdie konseptuele raamwerk is gebruik om altematiewe denkskole te evalueer. Daar is verder gepoog om die verskille wat bestaan tussen alternatiewe denkskole bloot te le. Daar is bevind dat die toepassing van omgewingsvriendelike praktyke assulks nie die kwessie van landbou volhoubaarheid bevredigend genoeg aanspreek nie. Landbou kan egter oor die langtermyn slegs volgehou word as die voortdurend veranderende ekonomiese, politieke, estetiese, etiese en kennis of wetenskapsvraagstukke gelyktydig aangespreek word.

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Soil Fertility and Mineral Nutrition of a Biodynamic Avocado Plantation in Tenerife

Cited by 9 publications

References 3 publications

Soil quality and profitability of biodynamic and conventional farming systems: A review

Soil quality and profitability of biodynamic and conventional farming systems: A review

Changes in Soil Chemical Properties Resulting from Organic and Low‐Input Farming Practices

Die Daarstelling Van 'N Konseptuele Raamwerk Vir Volhoubare Landbou

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