From Valerie@stuart.ak.planet.co.nzSun Feb 26 21:04:51 1995 Date: Sun, 26 Feb 95 20:05:37 +1200 From: Valerie Cowperthwaite To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Soil microbes Coming late to this discussion I'd just like to point out that the biodynamic preparations have shown to be an effective microbial input. The 500 prep, made from cow dung and sprayed on pasture in spring and autumn is the best for large, general areas. The others can be incorporated into any composting process and used on the soil or as foliar feeds. John Reganold led a study in New Zealand comparing biodynamic and conventional neighbouring farms with identical soil profiles. Microbial activity was one of the signficiant differences. The study was published in Science April 17 (?) 1993.