BIODYNAMICS In Agriculture.....A short Introduction to basic concepts

Biodynamics is an approach to agriculture based on a concept of life forces. These forces work in nature to bring about balance and healing. Biodynamic agriculture uses a philosophical model articulated in eight lectures given in 1924 by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), an Austrian scientist and philosopher. Steiner delivered these "Agriculture Course" lectures in response to observations from farmers -- that soils were becoming depleted and that the health and quality of crops and livestock were diminishing following the introduction of chemical fertilizers. Thus, biodynamic agriculture was the first "organic" or ecological farming system to develop as an alternative to chemical agriculture.

Biodynamics combines "biological" agriculture with an understanding of "dynamic" ecological systems. If there is a "conventional" school of organic agriculture today, it practices "biological" farming. For example, it uses cover crops and manure to build the microbiology of the soil. The "dynamic" part of the practice takes a broader perspective to enhance metaphysical aspects (the life forces) and natural rhythms (such as planting seeds during certain lunar phases). As an analogy, consider an alternative form of medicine. Chinese acupuncture represents an intricately detailed philosophy and practice for which we have no equivalent in conventional medicine. Acupuncture recognizes a subtle energy -- chi or life force -- that pervades our bodies and influences our health. Acupuncture is able to mobilize those healing forces in ways that defy explanation by to Western medicine.

The test is not whether the concept of acupuncture is "true" according to Western medical standards, but whether it works. For certain conditions, acupuncture works better than anything in Western medicine. Similarly, Biodynamics is concerned with chi or life force -- this time in the practice of using those forces beneficially in agriculture. In this sense, Biodynamics has been described as a spiritual or mystical approach to agriculture. Steiner was very concerned that his system should be distinguished from mere superstition or dogmatic belief. To this end, Steiner advocated a scientific process of testing hypotheses as well as meditative insight. This makes Biodynamics an on-going process in which the community of practitioners actively exchange ideas and refine their understanding.

Using a systems ecological approach, Biodynamics sees each farm as an organism, a self-contained entity with its own individuality. Thinking about the farm as ecosystem leads to holistic management practices. These include integrating crops with livestock, recycling nutrients, maintaining soil, and enhancing the health and well-being of crops and animals and even the farmer too. In this sense Biodynamics shares concepts with permaculture humans have a role as the designer of the ecosystem.

However, in considering natural forces Biodynamics introduces a different focus than other organic gardening schools of thought. Biodynamics parallels organic farming in many ways - especially with regard to cultural and biological farming practices - but it is set apart by its emphasis on chi or life energy. Biodynamic practices seek to balance the physical and non-physical realms, acknowledging cosmic and terrestrial forces that influence life energy. It is this complicated metaphysical terminology that makes Biodynamics hard to grasp, yet these concepts are part of the biodynamic understanding of how living systems work.

A Plant Contains the Following elements As shown,From here we see That Secondary nutrients such as Calcium Magnesium and Sulphur make up of a major part of the available make up of the Plant body
Hence to keep a plant Healthy we have to consider all the needs of a plant may it be primary,secondary or micronutrients needs to reap the rich benefits from the crop.