1. Zur experimentellen Darstellung von Wirkungen biologisch-dynamischer Präparate liegen ältere und neuere Arbeiten vor. W. Goldstein verwendete in Wachstumsversuchen, über die hier berichtet wird, Auszüge aus den Präparaten 503, 505, 507 und 500, ferner Flüssigdünger und Kompost. Weizenkeimpflanzen wurden unter Laboratoriumsbedingungen für 7-9 Tage in Nährlösungen mit unterschiedlichen Zusätzen von Präparaten wachsen gelassen.
2. Die Versuchsanordnung wird dargestellt. An den Pflanzen wurden gestaltliche Merkmale des Wurzel- und Sprosswachstums beschrieben, soweit diese einer Messung zugänglich sind, auch gemessen und die Ergebnisse statistisch geprüft.
3. Bei Wachstum in Nährlösungen unterschiedlicher Zusammensetzung und Konzentration zeigten sich in 12 Versuchsserien zwei charakteristische Typen des Wurzel- und Sprosswachstums, auch Übergänge zwischen diesen, sowie korrespondierende Blattlänge: Wurzellänge-Verhältnisse. Der «horizontale» Typ wird durch höhere Nährstoffkonzentrationen, insbesondere an Calzium und Stickstoff induziert, der «vertikale» durch geringere Konzentrationen, ferner durch Zugabe von Spurenelementen und Eisenzitrat. Die Streuung der Einzellängen von Wurzeln ist beim «vertikalen» Typ geringer als beim anderen.
4. Präparat 507 (Baldrian) induziert den vertikalen Typ in Wechselwirkung mit dem Einfluss von Nährlösung und Weizensorte. Dieser Effekt wird deutlicher, wenn die jeweilige Kontrolle mehr den Horizontaltyp begünstigt. Es zeigt sich deshalb, dass bei Spross:Wurzelverhältnissen von Reihen ohne, bzw. mit Präparaten eine lineare Korrelation besteht.
5. Präparat 505 (Eichenrinde) induziert den «horizontalen» Typ. Werden 505 und 507 kombiniert angewendet, so zeigen sich Übergänge. Allerdings in einem beweglichen Wechselspiel: Eichenrinde wirkt dem Baldrianeffekt entgegen, wenn dieser sehr deutlich ist; sie stimuliert ihn, wenn er schwach ist.
6. Das Präparat 503 (Kamille) scheint auch in Kombination mit 507 die Wurzellänge zu vergrössern, doch sind diesbezügliche Resultate als vorläufig zu betrachten. Das Präparat 500 (Horndung) bewirkt längere Wurzeln. Auch nach Fermentation begünstigt Gülle (ZOO/0 Rinderdünger in Wasser) den horizontalen Typ, Präparate verringern diesen Einfluss. Kompost begünstigt beide Wachstumstypen jeweils entgegengesetzt der Tendenz, die die Nährlösung induziert.
7. Die Diskussion bringt Gesichtspunkte zu einem rationellen Verständnis der Befunde.
1. Some older and also more recent experiments have been carried out in order to demonstrate effects of the biodynamic preparations. In growth experiments reported on in' this paper, W. Goldstein used extracts of the preparations 503, 505, 507 and also 500, furthermore slurry and composted manure. Under laboratory conditions wheat seedlings were allowed to grow for 7-9 days in nutrient solutions. Varying additions of the preparations were made.
2. The method is described. For the evaluation attention was focussed on the morphology of the plants; measurement and statistical processing of the data were intended to support visual assessments.
3. When wheat was grown in nutrient solutions of varying composition and concentrations two characteristic types of root and shoot growth and transitions between these, were noticeable, including corresponding ratios between the lengths of roots and shoots. The “horizontal” type is induced by high macronutrient levels. Raised calcium and nitrogen levels were found to be major agents in inducing this development. The “vertical” type is induced by lower levels, or by adding trace elements and ferric citrate. The “vertical” type shows also an increase in uniformity between individual plants for the length of any of the initial seminal roots.
4. In interplay with the influence of the nutrient solutions and the cultivars grown, preparation 507 (valerian) induces the vertical type. The effect of the 507 on inducing a more vertical type constantly increased as the control groups became more horizontal. A linear correlation exists between the leaf 1: root 1 ratios induced by the control and the corresponding ratios induced by the 507.
5. Preparation 505 (oak bark) induces the “horizontal” type of root growth. In combination 505 and 507 produce transitional forms, however in a dynamic interplay: oak bark appears to antagonize the valerian effect in two ways: by inhibiting it if it was intense or by stimulating it if it was naturally low.
6. Preparation 503 (camomile) also in combination with 507 seems to increase the lengths of roots. Preliminary results are reported. Preparation 500 (hornmanure) increased root length. In spite of having undergone fermentation slurry (20°/0 cow manure in water) induced the horizontal type. Preparations alleviate this effect. Compost stimulates both types of growth, at any case opposite to the tendency that is induced by the nutrient solution.
7. Aspects of a rationale of these findings are discussed.
1. Some older and also more recent experiments have been carried out in order to demonstrate effects of the biodynamic preparations. In growth experiments reported on in' this paper, W. Goldstein used extracts of the preparations 503, 505, 507 and also 500, furthermore slurry and composted manure. Under laboratory conditions wheat seedlings were allowed to grow for 7-9 days in nutrient solutions. Varying additions of the preparations were made.
2. The method is described. For the evaluation attention was focussed on the morphology of the plants; measurement and statistical processing of the data were intended to support visual assessments.
3. When wheat was grown in nutrient solutions of varying composition and concentrations two characteristic types of root and shoot growth and transitions between these, were noticeable, including corresponding ratios between the lengths of roots and shoots. The “horizontal” type is induced by high macronutrient levels. Raised calcium and nitrogen levels were found to be major agents in inducing this development. The “vertical” type is induced by lower levels, or by adding trace elements and ferric citrate. The “vertical” type shows also an increase in uniformity between individual plants for the length of any of the initial seminal roots.
4. In interplay with the influence of the nutrient solutions and the cultivars grown, preparation 507 (valerian) induces the vertical type. The effect of the 507 on inducing a more vertical type constantly increased as the control groups became more horizontal. A linear correlation exists between the leaf 1: root 1 ratios induced by the control and the corresponding ratios induced by the 507.
5. Preparation 505 (oak bark) induces the “horizontal” type of root growth. In combination 505 and 507 produce transitional forms, however in a dynamic interplay: oak bark appears to antagonize the valerian effect in two ways: by inhibiting it if it was intense or by stimulating it if it was naturally low.
6. Preparation 503 (camomile) also in combination with 507 seems to increase the lengths of roots. Preliminary results are reported. Preparation 500 (hornmanure) increased root length. In spite of having undergone fermentation slurry (20°/0 cow manure in water) induced the horizontal type. Preparations alleviate this effect. Compost stimulates both types of growth, at any case opposite to the tendency that is induced by the nutrient solution.
7. Aspects of a rationale of these findings are discussed.