How to Convert a Vineyard to Biodynamics
Transitioning a vineyard to biodynamics can seem like a daunting task, not even considering Demeter certification standards. When plants are habituated to synthetic fertilizers, the soil itself tends to become sickly and needs to be revitalized.
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The late Alex Podolinsky in Australia would use a cover crop blend with dozens of species in it. While this will certainly work, more recent research by Dr. Christine Jones indicates that if you use only four functional groups in your cover crop blend, you will have what she calls "total nutrient cycling." This might be tillage radish (brassica family), phacelia (borage family), sunflowers (aster family), and oats (grass family). Any number of these might be swapped out for a more suitable cousin in your particular situation.
Alex Podolinsky’s account in Bio-Dynamic Agriculture Introductory Lectures, Vol. 2, p. 15, describes soil building through suitable species, cultivation where appropriate, and BD 500 used together. Vineyard growers can develop that integrated approach locally while recording soil organic matter at consistent depths, root development, and vine performance over time.
Living cover, suitable soil cultivation, and biodynamic preparation use can be planned as a coordinated soil-care program. Podolinsky’s Prepared 500 method ages horn manure with the compost preparations; JPI offers Prepared 500 and the separately formulated Pfeiffer™ Field and Garden Spray for their respective directions.
A vineyard transition is a multi-year, site-adapted plan. Use soil tests, vine-tissue nutrient results, vigor, and harvest records to guide fertilizer changes instead of applying one annual percentage to every vineyard. See the University of Minnesota Extension vineyard nutrient-testing guide for a practical testing framework.
General Principles for Transitioning a Vineyard to Biodynamics
The outline below is a planning example. Growers should adapt cover crops, compost, preparations, and nutrient inputs to each vineyard block and local expertise.
Year 0: Establish a baseline before changing inputs. Test soil pH, organic matter, and nutrients; use vine-tissue testing and records of vigor and yield to map the needs of each block. Plan diverse cover crops (see Christine Jones’s cover-crop discussion), begin compost-making, and choose biodynamic preparations for the site. Set fertilizer needs from the measured condition of soil and vines as the transition begins.
Year 1: Establish the cover crop and compost program. Apply BD 500 horn manure as a soil spray and BD 501 horn silica as a foliar spray according to current JPI directions. Reassess vine vigor, yield, soil tests, and vine-tissue results before adjusting fertilizer inputs.
Add proper diverse cover crop mix in combination with the 500 biodynamic horn manure or the Pfeiffer Field Spray. When cover crop is at 20% blossom, mow it down or turn it under.
Year 1 will likely be though roughest transition year because you are trying to re-enliven a deadened soil and ween it off an addiction to fertilizer inputs. Consider the regular application of Equisetum arvense (Horsetail) as an antifungal spray.
Begin making your own compost. A Johnson-Su Bioreactor for easy compost is worth considering. Be sure to add the compost preparations to your compost pile! Even if you only use this compost as a "compost tea" across your farm, any indigenous microorganisms you can culture in a healthy way will help move your operation to greater ecological and financial independence. Do NOT compost diseased plant parts. Those are better burned.
Ehrenfried Pfeiffer recommends using the leftover grape skins and pulp and feeding them to hogs, then composting the grape skin hog manure before reintroducing this back to the vineyard.
Year 2: Continue the soil-spray, cover-crop, and compost program as suitable for the vineyard. Compare current soil and vine-tissue results with the baseline, then adjust fertilizer only to meet documented vine and soil nutrient needs.
Add proper diverse cover crop mix in combination with the 500 biodynamic horn manure or the Pfeiffer Field Spray. (two units of 500 horn manure per acre per year)
When cover crop is at 20% blossom, mow it down or turn it under.
Apply one application of 501 biodynamic horn silica across all grapes before flowers open and a second application before harvest time. (two units of 501 horn silica per acre per year)
Wait at least a year before applying any of your compost. Let it age thoroughly.
Year 3: Continue BD 500 soil care and the developing cover-crop and compost cycle. Review vine growth, harvest quality, and nutrient measurements by block before making further fertilizer changes.
Add proper diverse cover crop mix in combination with the 500 biodynamic horn manure or the Pfeiffer Field Spray. (two units of 500 horn manure per acre per year)
When cover crop is at 20% blossom, mow it down or turn it under.
Apply one application of 501 biodynamic horn silica across all grapes before flowers open and a second application before harvest time. (two units of 501 horn silica per acre per year)
Use compost if it is properly aged. Get it tested for pathogens if uncertain before using. Finished compost should be completely devoid of any offensive odor whatsoever. It should look and smell wonderful. Now that you're producing your own compost containing all the biodynamic compost preparations, your compost is both indigenous microorganisms and biodynamics -- the best of both worlds!
Year 4 and beyond: Keep the biodynamic soil, foliage, cover-crop, and compost practices that fit the site. Set the next season’s nutrient plan from vine-tissue and soil results, crop removal, and observed vine performance; no single fertilizer percentage is prescribed for every vineyard.
Add proper diverse cover crop mix in combination with the 500 biodynamic horn manure or the Pfeiffer Field Spray. (two units of 500 horn manure per acre per year)
When cover crop is at 20% blossom, mow it down or turn it under.
Apply one application of 501 biodynamic horn silica across all grapes before flowers open and a second application of 501 biodynamic horn silica before harvest time. (two units of 501 horn silica per acre per year.)
Continue to make compost. Burn diseased plant parts rather than leaving them to reinfect the soil and plants.
If you have questions, feel free to reach out to our staff at info@jpibiodynamics.org or call our office at +1(540)745-7030
