The original biodynamic (BD) preparations are numbered 500-508. The BD 500 preparation (hornmanure) is made from cow manure (fermented in a cow horn that is buried in the soil for six months through autumn and winter) and is used as a soil spray to stimulate root growth and humus formation. The BD 501 preparation (horn-silica) is made from powdered quartz (packed inside a cow horn and buried in the soil for six months through spring and summer) and applied as a foliar spray to stimulate and regulate growth.
The next six preparations, BD 502-507, are used in making compost.
No. 503 Chamomile blossoms (Chamomilla officinalis)
No. 502 Yarrow blossoms (Achillea millefolium)
No. 504 Stinging nettle (whole plant in full bloom) (Urtica dioca)
No. 505 Oak bark (Quercus robur)
No. 506 Dandelion flowers (Taraxacum officinale)
No. 507 Valerian flowers (Valeriana officinalis)
Finally, there is BD preparation 508 which is prepared from the silica-rich horsetail plant
(Equisetum arvense) and used as a foliar spray to suppress fungal diseases in plants.
