Biodynamic compost
“
This is a glimpse
into the web of life forms
that dwell in the skin of
the earth and it’s also a
diagram of a wild feeding
frenzy combined with an
orgy, going on 24/7.
”
of these relates to one or more plant nutrients and it is thought
that the preparations act as catalysts to influence biological availability and nutrient uptake by plants. For example, nettle is linked
to potassium, calcium, sulfur and iron, while valerian assists in the
utilization of phosphorus.
Hydroponics has proven that plants can be grown under artificial conditions—but the plants are often stressed, which is the
underlying cause of disease. Today, however, there is an increasing
number of growers making a shift away from synthetic nutrients
who are appreciating the simple beauty of working with natural
processes within the soil—and they’re recognizing the benefits of
using high-quality compost. Disease prevention can be achieved
with high-quality compost because the massive numbers of beneficial microbes (good guys) it contains outnumber the diseasecausing organisms (bad guys) so problems like powdery mildew
tend to be suppressed. Not eliminated entirely, perhaps—but held
in check to a level where they’re no longer a big issue.
‘Feed the
soil and let
the soil feed
the plants.’
You’ve heard
that before,
but what
does it mean
when we say
‘feed the soil?’
What are we
feeding it, exactly? Who’s
hungry and
what’s
for dinner?
164
Maximum Yield USA | March 2012