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Soybeans under organic, biodynamic and chemical production at the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Abstract
Soybean seed production is a challenge especially during the wet season in Vietnam. Organic production can add value to the enterprise but has not been verified as a viable option. The study was conducted in the 2005 wet season in the Mekong Delta to compare soybean productivity, seed quality and economics of 'OMDN111,' a recently introduced and formally bred variety, and 'Namvang,' a traditional variety, under four production practices: 'organic' (cow manure at 40-105-10 NPK and selected botanicals); 'biodynamic' (biodynamic preparations); 'chemical' (synthetic fertilizers at 40-60-30 NPK and insecticides); and control (no inputs). Treatments were arranged in a 4 x 2 factorial (with production practice as main plot and variety as subplot) in randomized complete block design with three replications. The results indicated that 'organic' is more effective than the 'chemical' practice in soybean seed production. Based on the circular paper chromatographic pattern of the seed extract, which indicates formative or life force, biological complexity and enzyme activity, differences between varieties and among production practices were apparent. With 'organic' and 'biodynamic' practices, the seed of 'Namvang' appeared to have stronger and more complex chromatographic patterns than 'OMDN111.' 'Namvang' had smaller seeds, higher seed yield, higher seed quality (germination and vigor at harvest and after 6 weeks storage), and higher protein content than 'OMDN111.' This was most pronounced under 'organic' practice. In general, 'organic' practice gave the greatest increase in soil organic matter, earthworm population, seed yield and quality, and net returns. 'Biodynamic' practice was a close second or third but generally not significantly different from 'organic' and 'chemical' (control was generally lowest) in terms of number of filled pods, seed yield, leaf area index and root nodule fresh weight. Earthworm population and organic matter was lowest under 'chemical' practice. Pest incidence-related parameters did not affect yield differences.
... Other studies confirm a lack of efficacy on soil fertility [Preparations 500-507 (Berner et al., 2008)] and quality (Reeve et al., 2005), though the combined application of Preparations 500-507 and other biodynamic field sprays were found to be ''moderately effective'' in increasing soil pH (Reeve et al., 2011). On the other hand, organic matter in organically treated soils (with manure incorporated as a fertilizer) was higher than that in unmanured soils treated with biodynamic Preparations 500-504 (Tung and Fernandez, 2007a), which may explain why earthworm populations were also greater than those under biodynamic treatment (Tung and Fernandez, 2007a). Similarly, Foissner (1992) reported enhanced soil life in organically managed fields compared with those under biodynamic management, which he attributed to the quality and quantity of organic matter in the former plots. ...
... Other studies confirm a lack of efficacy on soil fertility [Preparations 500-507 (Berner et al., 2008)] and quality (Reeve et al., 2005), though the combined application of Preparations 500-507 and other biodynamic field sprays were found to be ''moderately effective'' in increasing soil pH (Reeve et al., 2011). On the other hand, organic matter in organically treated soils (with manure incorporated as a fertilizer) was higher than that in unmanured soils treated with biodynamic Preparations 500-504 (Tung and Fernandez, 2007a), which may explain why earthworm populations were also greater than those under biodynamic treatment (Tung and Fernandez, 2007a). Similarly, Foissner (1992) reported enhanced soil life in organically managed fields compared with those under biodynamic management, which he attributed to the quality and quantity of organic matter in the former plots. ...
... Addition of biodynamic preparations did not increase economic return (Jayasree and George, 2006) or improve yield (Bacchus, 816 • December 2013 23(6) REVIEWS 2010; Stepien and Adamiak, 2007) over organic methods. In fact, organically produced soybeans (Tung and Fernandez, 2007a) and rice (Valdez and Fernandez, 2008) were more profitable than those produced using biodynamic methods, both in terms of yield and of production costs. Addition of biodynamic preparations not only increases labor and materials costs but also widens the ecological footprint of the practice because of higher machinery use for applying the preparations (Turinek et al., 2010). ...
Biodynamics is a form of organic agriculture first described in the 1920s by Rudolph Steiner, and practitioners can become certified biodynamic farmers by following specified practices. What distinguishes biodynamic from organic certification is the required use of nine preparations thought to improve soils and increase crop yields. This literature review focuses on the published, peer-reviewed science behind the use of biodynamic preparations, with the goal of providing objective information to extension educators, including Master Gardeners.
... In other field trials, horn silica application had a slightly yield increasing effect on lettuce in combination with organic fertiliser [41] or compensated for the yield reduction due to later potato planting dates [42]. However, the combination of both preparations was beneficial compared to control (soybeans: [43]; rice: [44]) or single horn manure use (sugar beet roots, wheat: [12]; cumin: [45]). Microbial contents of horn silica preparations were discussed to have pathogen controlling properties and therefore enhance yield and crop quality [46]. ...
Background
Food quality of agricultural crops depends on environmental conditions, production system and cultivation method. A plant-based nutrition with food rich in vitamins, minerals and secondary plant compounds with antioxidative properties promotes human health. This investigation was inspired by an increasing global issue on how to improve product quality while using alternative preparations. The main aim of a 3-year study was to investigate the influence of fermented manure and silica products on yield and nutritive components in peel, fruit and seeds of three pumpkin cultivars. In four replicates as block design, the effects of individually as well as combined application of biodynamic horn manure and horn silica preparation were compared to a control variant.
Results
Horn manure application significantly increased total and marketable yield. Marketable yield, contents of macroelements, total carotenoids, single carotenoids (lutein + zeaxanthin, lycopene, ß-carotene) and antioxidants (catechins, total phenols, leuco-anthocyanins) were significantly increased by horn silica use. The combination of both biodynamic preparations had a significantly increasing effect on total and marketable yield, net photosynthetic productivity, dry matter content and total and single carotenoid contents (lutein + zeaxanthin, lycopene, ß-carotene).
Conclusions
The pumpkin trial results indicated a general growth-promoting effect by horn manure, a quality-enhancing effect by horn silica and a compensatory effect through both preparations on a high qualitative level. In accordance with other investigations, these effects did not occur in the same way in all plant species. Therefore, the effects of the biodynamic preparations should be tested in further trials on a plant species-specific basis.
Graphic abstract
... What makes BA different to most other OA is its spiritual approach to agriculture [17] and special biodynamic preparations used both in the manure and on the field [18,19]. Being one of the oldest, and at the same time a somewhat controversial OA system, has caused BA to be included in several studies and field trials [1,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. ...
The aim of this paper was to present results from two long term field experiments comparing potato samples from conventional farming systems with samples from biodynamic farming systems. The principal component analyses (PCA), consistently exhibited differences between potato samples from the two farming systems. According to the PCA, potato samples treated with inorganic fertilizers exhibited a variation positively related to amounts of crude protein, yield, cooking or tissue discoloration and extract decomposition. Potato samples treated according to biodynamic principles, with composted cow manure, were more positively related to traits such as Quality- and EAA-indices, dry matter content, taste quality, relative proportion of pure protein and biocrystallization value. Distinctions between years, crop rotation and cultivars used were sometimes more significant than differences between manuring systems. Grown after barley the potato crop exhibited better quality traits compared to when grown after ley in both the conventional and the biodynamic farming system.
... Medimos la cosecha kg ha -1 , suponiendo que no hay efecto del tamaño del campo en la cosecha por hectárea. En un estudio experimental en campos pequeños, encontraron que el rendimiento bruto por hectárea en parcelas de soja con tres aplicaciones de insecticidas fue tres veces mayor que los que no aplicaron (Tung and Fernandez 2007). Otro estudio, en condiciones similares a las nuestras, comparó los rendimientos bajo control y una aplicación de insecticida (lambdacialotrina) y fungicida, mostrando un incremento del 8% en el rendimiento de la cosecha cuando se aplicó insecticida (Henry et al. 2011). ...
... We measured yield as kg ha -1 , and assuming the lack of effect of field size. An experimental study in small fields, found that the gross return per hectare in soybean plots with three insecticide applications was three times larger than those with none (Tung and Fernandez 2007). Other study, under similar conditions to ours, compared yields under control and one insecticide application (lambda-cyhalothrin) and fungicide, showing a 8% increase in yield when insecticide was applied (Henry et al. 2011). ...
PhD Dissertation - Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, USA
... 20 Only a few papers compare the results obtained with biodynamic agriculture with those from conventional farming. 11,24,25 The aim of the present paper is to compare three different agricultural practices (i.e. intensive conventional, organic and biodynamic) on the basis of agronomic yields and from the standpoint of polyphenol (flavonoids, anthocyans and hydroxycinnamic acids) content and antiradical activity in order to ascertain whether biodynamic practices could lead to variations with respect to the most general organic practice and whether either technique could lead to vegetables which may be more appreciated by consumers as 'nutraceutical' food. ...
BACKGROUND:Lactuca sativa L. ssp. acephala L., cv. Batavia red Mohican plants were cultivated under intensive conventional, organic and biodynamic farming and were analyzed for their polyphenol content and antiradical activity in order to demonstrate the influence of farming on yield, polyphenol content and antiradical activity.
RESULTS: The yield of plants from conventional farming was the highest (2.89 kg m−2), while polyphenol content, measured by spectrophotometry, of these plants was lower at P < 0.05 (1.36 mg g−1) than the content of plants from organic and biodynamic farming (1.74 and 1.85 mg g−1, respectively). The antiradical activity, measured by DPPH · assay, was positively correlated to flavonoid and hydroxycinnamic acid contents.
CONCLUSION: Flavonoid, hydroxycinnamic acid and anthocyan patterns were not affected by the type of cultivation, while quantitative differences were demonstrated and some differences were found between conventional farming and organic or biodynamic farming. The yield of conventionally grown salads was the highest. Copyright
This investigation was inspired by an increasing global issue on how to improve soil quality while using alternative preparations instead of synthetic fertilizers. The main aim of a three-year study was to investigate the influence of horn-manure preparation on enzyme activity and nutrient content in soil and pumpkin yield. The results showed that significantly higher amounts of P (respectively 106 and 79 mg kg ⁻¹ CAL), K (149 and 106 mg kg ⁻¹ CAL), nitrogen (5.41 and 3.21 mg kg ⁻¹ ), ammoniacal nitrogen (9.38 and 3.45 mg kg ⁻¹ ) and mineral nitrogen (7.97 and 5.67 mg kg ⁻¹ ) were measured in the plots where the horn-manure preparation was used. A higher activity of the soil enzymes (urease activity was 1.93 times higher and the saccharase activity was 1.05 times higher) were identified with horn-manure. The average soil CO 2 flux (F c ) value, when using horn-manure preparation (from 56 till 70 day), was significantly higher by 5.32% in the middle of the growing season. The yield of pumpkin was significantly increased by 18% with horn manure treatments. Significant positive correlations were identified between pumpkin yield and urease activity, and saccharase activity, as well as soil P and K.
The ecofriendly practices applied in the sustainable agriculture aims to maintain or enhance the health of the natural resource within the constraints of the market-based production system. Usually, sustainability in agriculture is defined within the periphery of local environmental effects only as it involves the effects of the system on the people, economy, as well as on the environment. The ultimate
definition of a sustainable system is one that serves people, sustains or improves the environment, and enhances the economy on the scale of the entire planet and over the next hundred or several hundred years. In India, economic backwardness and fragility of the hilly terrain demands more attention towards the sustainable development and restoration of environment. Field crops solely cannot fulfill the food
demand of huge population and also are not so much economically viable. Thus, by keeping the food insecurity in mind, the people living in hilly terrains of India are forced to migrate towards foothills and plain area of its nearby surrounding there by imparting the more pressure on the people already living in the plains to meet out their nutritional demands. Horticulture sector is best suited for empowerment of women, contribute to the protection and enrichment of biodiversity as well as enhancing the economic and environmental restoration. Facing the combined challenges of an increasing world population, environmental degradation, climate change and civil unrest of world in general and India in particular needs new responses to sustainable development of horticulture. India is one of the leading
producers of horticultural crops, because of having congenial climatic conditions for almost all type of horticultural crops whether these are fruits, vegetables or flowers and even in spices and condiments. But in recent years due to increment in population dynamics, rapid changes in climate have announced an alarming sign in the development of the horticulture in the country. Consequently, the productivity of horticultural crops has declined in the recent decades. Therefore, the sustainability of horticultural activities in the country is highly demanded for fulfilling the qualitative nutritional demands of the population.
Seeds are uniquely equipped to survive as viable regenerative organisms until the time and place are right for the beginning of a new generation; however, like any other form of life, they cannot retain their viability indefinitely and eventually deteriorate and die. Fortunately, neither nature nor agricultural practice ordinarily requires seeds to survive longer than the next growing season, though seeds of most species are able to survive much longer under the proper conditions.
ABTRACTS The long term experiment on effect of organic and bio-fertilizer application have been conducted from 2000 up to 2003. This indicated fertilizer dose for soybean could be recommended at the rate of 60N-60 P 2 0 5 -30 K 2 0 combined with composted paddy straw or inoculants viz., SB83 (Rhizobium fredii) and SB177 (Bradyhrizobium sp.) or both composted paddy straw and inoculants + 30N-60 P 2 0 5 -30 K 2 0. Agronomic characters and grain yield of soybean were compared among the treatments to higher dose of inorganic fertilizer as T1 (100-60-30) as farmers' application. At the same time, the experimental results showed that application of organic and bio-fertilizer could be substantiated N inorganic fertilizer to an extent of 40 – 70 kg N ha -1 while some important agronomic characters and grain yield of rice –soybean-rice were comparable to the control (conventional dose applied by farmers) due to cumulative effect. Especially, the soil fertility viz., soil organic carbon content, soil available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium built up significantly under application inorganic fertilizer combined with composted paddy straw or inoculants or both composted paddy straw and inoculants as compared to the treatments those applied only inorganic fertilizers.
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