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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 47(5)

Comparing irrigated biodynamic and conventionally managed dairy farms. 1. Soil and pasture properties

L. L. Burkitt A , D. R. Small B , J. W. McDonald C , W. J. Wales D E and M. L. Jenkin D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Tasmania, PO Box 3523, Burnie, Tas. 7320, Australia.

B Environmental & Agricultural Consulting Pty Ltd, 68 Saunders Street, Kyabram, Vic. 3620, Australia.

C Veterinary & Nutrition Consultant, 82 Monds Avenue, Benalla, Vic. 3672, Australia.

D Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic), 120 Cooma Road, Kyabram, Vic. 3620, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: bill.wales@dpi.vic.gov.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47(5) 479-488 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05196
Submitted: 14 July 2005  Accepted: 27 July 2006   Published: 13 April 2007

Abstract

Ten paired irrigated dairy farms under biodynamic (BD) and conventional (CV) management were compared over a 4-year period (1991–94). The paired farms were located in the irrigation districts of northern Victoria and southern New South Wales and were matched for soil type, climate, cattle breed and farm area. Farms had been practising BD principles for an average of 16 years before the commencement of the study and had not received phosphorus (P) fertiliser for an average of 17 years. The effects of farm management on soil chemical and biological properties and the nutritive properties and botanical composition of pasture were examined at varying sampling times during the study.

Soil Olsen extractable P concentrations were consistently 2–3 times higher under CV management at various sampling depths (mean = 22 mg/kg, 0–10 cm), and were generally marginal under BD management in the surface 10 cm (mean = 8.5 mg/kg). Low soil extractable P concentrations were also reflected in consistently lower mean pasture P concentrations under BD management (0.25 compared with 0.35% on CV farms). Lower soil and pasture P concentrations under BD management were the result of a large negative P balance across BD farms (–17 kg P/ha.year). A mean negative P balance under BD management was a result of low P imports (2 kg P/ha.year) in comparison with large quantities of P (19 kg P/ha.year) effectively lost from the farming system through animal products, estimated losses in water runoff and slowly reversible soil P reactions. These results suggest that greater P imports are required to ensure the future sustainability of BD dairy pasture farming systems. There were few differences in soil biological properties, with earthworm weights significantly higher under CV management, but no difference in soil organic carbon, humus concentration, the weight of the organic mat or microbial biomass, between the two management systems.


Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dairy Australia (formerly the Dairy Research and Development Corporation) and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Victoria (formerly the Department of Agriculture, Victoria) for funding this project. We sincerely thank the 20 dairy farmers who participated in this project and recognise that without this support, the project would not have been possible. We also acknowledge the biometric advice provided by Leigh Callinan and Jim Madden from the DPI. In addition, we recognise the contribution of students in this project, namely Megan Ryan (Australian National University), Andrew Daniels (Griffith University), James Lytton-Hitchins (University of NSW) and Chris Parker and Michael Cock (LaTrobe University).


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