Long-Term Effects of Biodynamic Practices on Soil Fertility and Wheat Quality: Insights from the Frick Trial

Summary

In the Frick trial, a long-term experiment (LTE) initiated in 2002 at FiBL, Switzerland, the effects of tillage, fertilization, and biodynamic preparations on soil fertility and crop quality are investigated. A new project (2024-2027) in this LTE focuses on soil microbial functional diversity using high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics. The LTE employs a full factorial design, separating the effects of biodynamic preparations from fertilization and tillage. Previous research has shown improved soil quality in biodynamic systems, with effects on soil microbial communities and nutrient cycling. In addition to the biodynamic compost, the preparations can also have an effect on the microorganisms. Soil samples from 2024 are analyzed for organic carbon, pH, minerals, and microbial biomass and wheat samples for yield and nutrient contents, and quality with image forming methods. DNA sequencing of microbes from soil allows identification of metabolic pathways related to carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus cycles. The study aims to deepen our understanding of how biodynamic management influences long-term soil fertility and wheat quality.