An Experimental Test of a Biodynamic Method of Weed Suppression: The Biodynamic Seed Peppers

2015-2016 UNCG University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund Grant Winner. An experimental test of a biodynamic agriculture method of weed suppression was carried out ingrowth chambers to establish the feasibility of the method as a preliminary to field trials. Fourgenerations of Brassica rapa plants were used in a randomized block design. Treated flatsreceived ashed seeds prepared according to biodynamic indications. Seed weight and countswere measured at the end of each generation, and germination of the control and experimentalseed was investigated at the end of generation four. The biodynamic seed peppers, created andapplied as described here, had no effect on seed production or viability, and did not effectivelyinhibit reproduction of the targeted species over the course of four consecutive treatments.