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A study by INRAE (Institut national de la recherche agronomique) shows an increased presence of micro-organisms in biodynamic soils. These conclusions concern in particular viticulture, a sector at the forefront in this field.
The result is indisputable. According to a meta-analysis carried out by Amélie Christel, of AgroParisTech, Pierre-Alain Maron and Lionel Ranjard, of the Inrae of Dijon, the biological indicators of the soil are higher of the order of 70% in biodynamic agriculture compared to the conventional agriculture. The results for organic farming are just as encouraging.
The French study compiles about 100 scientific publications related to conventional, organic and biodynamic farming systems. In fact, only those observations adopting a systemic approach, i.e. considering a farming system as a whole and not as an isolated part of an ecosystem, were finally retained. The researchers also noted that studies on conservation agriculture are still rare.
A plea for biodynamics
In general, the study shows that biodynamic and organic farming improve soil quality in terms of the abundance, diversity and function of micro-organisms. The quantities of micro-organisms are also about 70% higher in biodynamic than in conventional farming. For bacteria and fungi, the statistics show an improvement in activity of 54% on average.
The conclusions are more uncertain for earthworms and certain arthropods, for which no definite results have been found to date. Another interesting fact is that the biological indicators of the soil are 43% better in biodynamic agriculture than in organic agriculture.
The case of viticulture
As a leading sector in the field of biodynamics, viticulture is directly concerned by these conclusions published in the journal Environmental Chemistry Letters.
The results have therefore been enthusiastically welcomed in the biodynamic viticulture community. They confirm on a larger scale those revealed a few months earlier by Lionel Ranjard. The director of research in agroecology at INRAE in Dijon had indeed shown that the activity of bacteria and fungi was about 30 times more stimulated in vineyards applying biodynamic principles than in those using conventional methods. The study, which covered 75 plots in Alsace and Burgundy, demonstrated the negative impact of tillage and the use of pesticides on microbial activity. On the other hand, grassing, organic amendments and restitution by the shoots have obvious beneficial effects. It remains to be seen whether these results are due to the famous biodynamic preparations, or to the combined effect of multiple factors.