THE DEVELOPMENT AGRICULTURAL METHOD
by Dr. Lawrence Wilson
© October 2023, LD Wilson Consultants, Inc.
Table Of Contents
History
Why The Name?
Advantages Of The Development Method
Testing
Calculations
Applying Supplements
Retesting
How Long?
Maintenance
Retracing
Sampling
Calculations
Correction
The Correction Process And Retesting Your Soil
How To Determine If Your Soil Has Changed Its Oxidation Type Or Na/K Ratio
How To Keep Your Soil Balanced
Soil Adjustments or Healing Reactions
Pesticides
Crop Varieties
Theory
Why The Need for Copper
More Technical Aspects
Yin And Yang Soil Methods
Growing During The Balancing Process
Role Of Boron And Potassium In Plants
Why Mineral Levels, Not Available Minerals
Transmutation
Mineral Oxides In The Soil
Who Benefits Most
Ideal Soil Mineral Values
References
HISTORY
Modern development science originated about 50 years ago as a healing method for humans. The author has used it and helped refine its use for 42 years with humans and large and small animals.
This article is an early research report concerning the application of the same concepts in agriculture. It is an organic method that does not require superphosphate or N-P-K chemicals. It has not been thoroughly researched and perfected at this time (October 2023)
Theory. It draws upon a number of scientific concepts of the 20th century including the stress theory of disease, biological transmutation, and the oxidation types. One of its founders, Dr. Paul Eck, was heavily influenced by the work of William Albrecht as is this author. Much more about theory is found in two articles, Development Theory – Part I and Development Theory – Part II.
NOTE: For a discussion of why this procedure and not others, see the discussion section later in this article.
STEP 1. OBTAIN A STANDARD SOIL TEST
The method requires repeated standard soil tests for at least calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. Testing for trace minerals and common toxic metals is also helpful. The calculations the actual mineral levels, not just percentages or just the CEC (cation exchange capacity).
STEP 2. WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE TEST RESULTS, DO THREE SIMPLE CALCULATIONS
The calcium/potassium ratio.
The sodium/magnesium ratio.
The sodium/potassium ratio.
STEP 3. ASSESS THE “SPEED” OR OXIDATION RATE OF YOUR SOIL
The oxidation rate depends upon two mineral ratios – Ca/K and Na/MG. It can be either fast, slow or mixed.
Definition of fast oxidation: (usually indicates soil under acute stress). The criteria are:
Calcium/potassium ratio EQUAL TO or LESS THAN about 100.
AND
Sodium/magnesium ratio EQUAL TO or GREATER than about 0.0025.
Definition of slow oxidation: (indicates an exhausted soil). The criteria are:
Calcium/potassium ratio GREATER than about 100.
AND
Sodium/magnesium ratio LESS than about 0.0025.
Definition of mixed oxidation. The criteria are:
A. A calcium/potassium ratio less than 100 AND a sodium/magnesium ratio less than 0.0025.
OR
B. A calcium/potassium ratio greater than 100 AND a sodium/magnesium ratio greater than 0.0025.
Mixed oxidation is a temporary state that will resolve to either fast or slow oxidation as you adjust the soil with this method, usually within a few months. It is a little trickier to dose the soil supplements, but not too difficult.
STEP 4. THE SODIUM/POTASSIUM RATIO
This measures an electrical charge on the cell membranes of certain soil organisms, and more. Sodium and potassium are the main minerals responsible for the solubility of the soil. We currently use an ideal Na/K ratio in soil of 0.45.
High Na/K ratio = Na/K GREATER THAN 0.45.
Low Na/K ratio = Na/K LESS THAN 0.45.
STEP 5. ASSESS FOUR LOWS
Four lows is a more depleted or dead soil. It is present when the levels of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium are all lower than their ideal levels. It requires a special program. The criteria are:
CALCIUM less than 20,000 parts per million AND
MAGNESIUM less than 4000 ppm AND
SODIUM less than 10 ppm AND
POTASSIUM less than 200 ppm
A rapid, alternative way to roughly assess the speed, the Na/K and four lows.
STEP 6. DESIGN THE CORRECTIVE PROGRAM
Now you can adds minerals to the soil in the proper proportions to balance the soil. This is described in the next section.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
1. Calcium and magnesium. This is often in the form of dolomite or crushed limestone.
2. Copper. We use copper sulfate. It is inexpensive and works well. We are also experimenting with the use of copper rods, which are purer, but are more work and cost. Using a plant high in copper so far does not work as well.
3. Zinc sulfate. This is only needed when the ratio of total sodium to total potassium in the soil is high. This is explained below.
4. Water. Some soils need more water. This is detailed below.
5. Bacteria. To provide this, we currently use horse manure that has not been composted. This is working the best.
Other manures may work, such as cow or sheep manure. Horse manure seems to contain more of the bacteria needed to convert the oxide forms of the minerals into more healthful mineral compounds. The horses whose manure one uses should eat at least some fresh grass to produce the bacteria we want.
Bio-dynamic enzymes. Some farmers are using bio-dynamic enzymes to compost waste matter and to condition their soil. This will work to some extent. However, we find that horse manure is better.
6. Other. In a few rare cases, other supplements are needed. This is beyond the scope of this article, which is intended for most soils.
CORRECTION PROCEDURE
Mix materials using this formula:
COPPER AND POSSIBLY LIME AND MAGNESIUM:
A. If the soil is in fast oxidation, use 100 pounds of copper per acre.
B. If the soil is in slow oxidation, use 50 pounds of copper per acre.
C. If the soil is in a four lows pattern, add 50 pounds of copper per acre. However, also add lime at a rate of 200 pounds per acre and magnesium at 100 pounds per acre.
Now add even more minerals based on the Na/K ratio:
If the Na/K is less than 0.1, add more copper, about 50 pounds per acre.
If the Na/K is less than 0.05 add 100 pounds of copper per acre.
If the Na/K is above 0.1 but less than about 0.15, add 100 pounds of zinc per acre.
If the Na/K ratio is above 0.15, add 200 pounds of zinc per acre.
NOTE: If you do this right, you will always be adding at least 50 pounds of copper per acre, and often more. In addition, you may be adding some zinc to your soil.
5. Adding manure. One needs to add about 100 pounds per acre. Too much, or if it is spread unevenly, will burn the soil, but eventually it should work. Try to use a good spreader to distribute the bacteria evenly.
6. The water. Most soil needs to be damp to slightly wet. Dry soil will not adjust or balance nearly as fast or as well. Therefore, you may have to irrigate if your soil is very dry.
Caution: If a heavy rain falls within three days of a mineral application, you may need to reapply the minerals if the rain all runs off your land. If the rain soaks in, the mineral application should be valid. Rain that falls more than a few days after an application of minerals should not disturb the balancing process.
III. OTHER TOPICS
Step 5. Retests. When one begins, we recommend a retest soil analysis about every three months. When the balancing period is over, retests can be every six months.
Precision. The amount of minerals one feeds to the soil needs to be fairly precise and usually includes calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and rarely one or two other minerals.
How long. This pace of testing needs to continue until the oxidation rate and the sodium/potassium ratio of your soil stabilize at the correct levels. This usually takes about three years, but could take up to five years in very depleted soil. The period required to regenerate the soil is called the balancing period or balancing time.
Crops during the balancing time. You can and should grow a few crops while the soil is balancing. A legume and one other crop every year will speed up the balancing time.
Cost. Due to the quarterly testing and quarterly applications, this method may be more costly than simply adding minerals once a year. However, soil regeneration is much faster and better.
Maintenance. Once the soil is balanced, retesting is done annually using the same method explained above. One never goes back to the CEC method that is in common use today.
Retracing. During the balancing time, the mineral values of your soil or plants will retrace. This means that old patterns of imbalance will resurface and then disappear.
This is most unusual and worries many growers! It will seem as though the soil becomes worse, at times, and one thinks that one has wasted one’s money. However, retracing is absolutely necessary to heal the soil at deep levels.
Tilling. There is a lot of interest in no-till methods. However, for the fastest soil regeneration, we find tilling gets the minerals into the soil much faster and significantly reduces the balancing time. No-till methods are much slower during the balancing time. Once balancing is finished, tilling is less required.
Graphing. If you wish, graph the numbers for your soil on a calibrated graph that has the ideal values in the middle of the graphs. This is not needed, however. Some day the labs will offer this, but they do not offer it today.
IDEAL SOIL MINERAL VALUES
Ideal mineral ideals. The soil mineral ideal values are different than those used by most labs. The reason is that we find that all soils are weak or sick, and the labs are accustomed to these sick soils.
CALCIUM 16,000 ppm
MAGNESIUM 11,000 ppm
SODIUM 500 ppm
POTASSIUM 1200 ppm
Amazingly, these are consistent across different soil types such as sandy, loamy or clay soil.
RETESTING YOUR SOIL
During the correction process, the oxidation rate and the sodium/potassium ratio may vary, moving up and down a number of times. This is why frequent soil testing is essential! It is not too costly, so do it more often rather than less often.
In most cases, you can wait three to six months between soil tests. This is about optimal in most cases.
However, if you suspect that your soil has shifted its oxidation rate or its Na/K ratio sooner than in three months, then test it again sooner. You can test it as often as once a month.
HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOUR SOIL HAS SHIFTED ITS OXIDATION RATE OR ITS NA/K RATIO
Your soil may well have shifted if your crops, weeds and/or animals living on it are not looking as well. They all tend to do best when the soil is balanced in the way described in this article.
Once again, do not test the soil more than about once a month. It won’t change any faster, so there is no reason to test more often than this. And again, most of the time you can go for three or even up to six months without retesting during the balancing period.
However, do not go more than six months without a retest during the balancing period, as the soil can change and you may not be aware of it. Failing to retest the soil at least every six months will greatly slow down the balancing and adjustment of your soil.
Each time you find that the soil has shifted its oxidation rate and/or its sodium/potassium ratio, you must make another application of the minerals. We know this sounds like a lot of applications, but it is necessary for success. Remember, however, that you cannot apply minerals or manures more than about once a month, or it will overwhelm the soil, and usually, you won’t be re-applying minerals more than once every three to six months.
Eventually, the soil will settle down into a fairly mild fast oxidation pattern with a fairly normal Na/K ratio of about 0.45. This is when your soil is now ready to produce at its optimum. This can take a few years of balancing the soil.
HOW TO KEEP THE SOIL BALANCED
Once your soil is balanced, the next question is how to keep it that way. Here are suggestions:
1. Strictly keep all toxic chemicals, including even some natural pesticides, off the land. Use as little as you can of any toxic substances, even natural ones. This is very important!
2. Let the land lie fallow at least once every three years. For now, this is helpful. Eventually, we may be able to keep producing through crop rotation, but most soil is still weak and needs a year of rest every three years.
3. Rotate your crops every year. This is essential, as well.
REACTIONS OR READJUSTMENTS
At times, using this method, the oxidation rate, the Na/K ratio, and/or the levels of the soil minerals may become very high or very low. This is normal for this method, so be prepared for it!
This process is called retracing in the human and animal populations. In development soil science, this effect is called a readjustment.
In this rather fascinating process, soil microbes may produce a lot of one mineral, or deplete a particular mineral, in the process of restoring the soil to health.
A problem for Ag scientists. Readjustments of this type are a problem for scientists who may react with alarm when a soil test comes back with higher or lower mineral levels than are expected.
The correct response is to allow the process to proceed without interrupting it with symptomatic soil treatments such as adding lime, adding magnesium, or others.
This is difficult to understand for conventionally-trained soil scientists, however. It takes some experience to learn to let the process work itself out. Just continue to correct the oxidation rate and the Na/K ratio ONLY, and do not worry about the other aberrations that will occur, at times, because these variations are normal for this method.
For more about this interesting healing process in human beings and in animals, read Retracing. While this article is about human health, the principles and the method of allowing the reactions to pass are identical to the way we handle the soil.
PESTICIDES
These are best avoided, since they damage or kill soil microorganisms. This includes “natural” pesticides, which can still be somewhat toxic. A truly healthy soil will tend to produce crops that will not be plagued by pests.
CROP VARIETIES
In general, the development method works best with older plant varieties. Farmers often like these varieties better because they are hardier and not adapted to pesticides and depleted soils.
The method works with hybrids, but they often do not yield as well as the older varieties using the development method, which does not include growth stimulants.
The food produced with the older varieties is far more nutritious and yields are excellent.
THEORY
The development method is based on a number of concepts:
Mineral balancing. Development science is based on balancing the minerals in an animal or human body. It employs the research of William Albrecht concerning how one mineral level in the soil affects the levels of other minerals. While this research is now almost 100 years old, few are able to use it in the way we do.
For this breakthrough, we owe a great debt to Dr. Paul Eck (1925-1996), who extended the research and came up with a practical way to balance bodies based upon it.
The stress theory of disease. This is the work of Hans Selye, MD (1907-1982). Dr. Selye realized that all animals and the soil go through stages of stress. He gave these names – alarm, resistance and exhaustion.
The oxidation types. This is the work of George Watson, PhD (1912-?). He was a professor of philosophy of science at the University of Southern California. His health research focused on the response of a human being to various odors. Through this method, he identified two basic states of body chemistry that he called fast and slow oxidation.
This is not the same as fast and slow metabolism. However, they are related.
The sodium/potassium ratio. This is the most important mineral ratio in development science. It has to do with the electrical balance of the cells and more. For details, read The Sodium/Potassium Ratio.
Preferred minerals. When soil microorganisms and earth worms do not receive enough of the minerals they require, they will take up and use less-preferred minerals to operate their enzyme systems and for other purposes. This is a basic survival mechanism for all living creatures. However, it is also the cause of a lot of ill health of animals.
Dr. Paul Eck learned about this phenomenon from the writings of Henry Schroeder, MD (1906-1975). Dr. Schroeder wrote on page 7 of Trace Elements And Man:
“- cadmium avidly replaces zinc and changes or inactivates zinc (dependent) enzymes, causing disease;
- arsenic displaces phosphorus, causing disease;
- selenium displaces sulfur, causing disease;
- bromine displaces chlorine (and both bromine and chlorine displace iodine);
- beryllium displaces magnesium;
- strontium displaces calcium …”
Dr. Schroeder realized that a chemical element can often be replaced by the element underneath it on the standard periodic table of the elements because the outer electron shells are shaped similarly. All the elements in each column of the periodic table of the elements have the same number of electrons in their outer shell. In this sense, the atoms are “shaped” somewhat the same.
For this reason, elements in the same column can “fit” into certain enzymes, like a key that fits into a lock even though it is not the right key to open the lock.
In the case of chemical elements, the replacement or less-preferred “key” or element can sometimes operate the lock to a degree, a times preserving life. However, the enzyme or tissue does not work properly, so disease results.
A crude analogy is if one breaks the fan belt on a vehicle and does not have a replacement belt, one could possibly take off one’s waist belt, wrap it tightly around the pulleys and slowly make your way home. That is how less-preferred minerals work in animal and human bodies. They don’t fit well, but they fit enough to sustain life.
While this idea may sounds unusual, it is one of the most important secrets of development science. For more details, read Preferred Minerals.
Layers of adaptations or compensations. This is the idea that what is called ill health or disease is not an “entity”, as the veterinarians and medical doctors are taught. In fact, disease is a process of adaptation to stressors.
Readjustments or retracing. Another vital concept in the development method is that deep healing of the soil causes big swings in the mineral balance as the soil heals. This idea relates directly to the idea of layers of adaptations described above.
Other inspirations for the work were the scientific genius of Dr. Louis Kervran, author of Biological Transmutations, and Andre Voisin, author of Soil, Grass And Cancer.
WHY THE NEED FOR COPPER
This relates to biochemistry. Copper, we have found, helps to raise a low sodium/potassium ratio in the soil. It also reduces a fast oxidation rate. Both of these conditions are commonly present in the soils of the earth. So that is the reason copper sulfate is so helpful.
Copper may have this effect because copper supports oxidative metabolism in many species of micro-organisms, worms and other soil inhabitants. Copper is required for the Krebs or carboxylic acid cycle found in many organisms. As oxidative processes increase, so do all life processes increase in our soil. An end result is to raise the sodium/potassium ratio.
Copper may reduce a fast oxidation rate by making calcium more bioavailable in the soil. This has a calming and slowing effect upon the soil oxidation rate. Oxidation rates are discussed below.
YIN AND YANG SOIL METHODS
Yin and yang are Chinese words that express a physics concept. We sometimes use them because there are no good equivalent words in English. While few pay attention to this concept in Western nations, the idea is very important in some Oriental concepts of agriculture.
The development method is a very yang method of soil regeneration. Yang methods tend to make the soil much more active and warmer. They also tend to condense it or make its structure more compact. Yang methods also tend to work faster.
However, many of the methods used today are more yin. This means that their effect, at a deep level, is to make the soil colder, less active, and make its structure more expanded. This is usually not helpful because the soil is already somewhat yin due to excessive ionizing radiation in the soil and toxic metals and toxic chemicals in the soil.
Examples of more yin methods of soil regeneration and soil-building are radionics, superphosphate fertilizers, crushed rock, fish heads, homeopathy and the addition of most products of all kinds.
While it is true that this method uses copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, lime and other materials, the amounts used are relatively small, and this is more yang.
CAN ONE GROW CROPS AT THE SAME TIME AS THE DEVELOPMENT IS OCCURRING?
Yes, in most cases. Development by this method is a little harsh, at times. In general, however, most crops can withstand the process quite well, we find.
Also, most livestock animals can handle the process quite well. We suggest keeping livestock off of a field for a few days after applying the copper or manure. Other than this caution, they can graze normally.
ROLE OF BORON AND POTASSIUM IN PLANTS
Boron. Boron in plants acts to raise the sodium/potassium ratio. In this regard, it is somewhat like the role of the adrenal glands in animals and human beings.
Unfortunately, very few plants have the right form of boron for ideal growth. Most of the time, the boron in plants is an oxide form that is somewhat toxic and stimulating. The ideal form is not an oxide and does not have the same stimulating effect, but it is low on the planet and not available as a supplement.
The oxide form of boron finds its way into human food and is slightly toxic for human beings and animals.
Potassium. Potassium in plants acts to increase the sodium/potassium ratio and tends to increase the oxidation rate. It seems to function in a way similar to the thyroid gland in animals and human beings.
The potassium found in N-P-K fertilizers is always somewhat toxic for plants. This is just one problem with N-P-K agriculture, which is largely just stimulation of plant growth and soil mining.
WHY MEASURE TOTAL MINERALS AND NOT THE AVAILABLE FRACTION
The reason is that with the development method, we balance the oxidation rate which involves the sodium and potassium levels in the soil. These are solvent minerals and their levels and ratios determine the percentage of ionized and available minerals in the soil. So, in fact, the development method does measure the available fraction of soil minerals.
TRANSMUTATION
Restoring the ability of the soil microorganisms to transmute heavy metals in the soil into lighter minerals is a great secret of the success of the development method. It requires very healthy soil microorganisms and a more yang soil.
MINERAL OXIDES IN THE SOIL
This is a serious problem that often goes unrecognized. To understand these a little better, read Iron, Manganese And Aluminum – The Amigos.
SOILS, CROPS AND LIVESTOCK THAT BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THE DEVELOPMENT METHOD
The development method so far balances most soils, all crops and all livestock.
OTHER MINERAL IDEALS
Below are the other ideal soil mineral levels we use. Remember, however, that using the development method one does not base supplementation on these levels. They are for reference, only, at this time. All, except for phosphorus, are in parts per million:
COPPER 1.5
ZINC 14
SULFUR 85
IRON 85
MANGANESE 40
CHROMIUM 20
BORON 0.5
ALUMINUM 140 (a toxic metal)
PHOSPHORUS 1100 (as P2O5 in lbs/acre)
References
1. Wilson, L., Nutritional Balancing And Hair Mineral Analysis, 2016.
3. The Sodium/Potassium Ratio.
4. Biological Transmutation Of The Elements.
APPENDIX. CALCULATIONS FOR A PLANT MINERAL TEST
Pea plant ideals. The ideal plant mineral values we are currently using are based on those of a pea plant. You can use a different test plant and the values will be similar, though perhaps not identical.
We like using a pea plant because it grows almost everywhere and it matures in a few days. This saves time if one does not have a plant handy and must grow one. The ideal values we are using are:
Calcium - 250 ppm
Magnesium – 80 ppm
Sodium – 20 ppm
Potassium – 50 ppm
Write down your plant’s oxidation rate. To do this, use a combination of two ratios. The calculations are below:
Fast oxidation: (usually indicates soil under acute stress)
Calcium/potassium ratio EQUAL TO or LESS THAN about 5.
AND
Sodium/magnesium ratio EQUAL TO or GREATER than about 0.25.
Slow oxidation: (indicates an exhausted soil)
Calcium/potassium ratio GREATER than about 5.
AND
Sodium/magnesium ratio LESS than about 0.25.
Mixed oxidation: A Calcium/potassium ratio GREATER than 5 AND a sodium/magnesium ratio GREATER than 0.25.
OR
A Calcium/potassium ratio LESS than 5 AND A sodium/magnesium ratio LESS than 0.25.
(Mixed oxidation is an unstable state that will resolve to fast or slow oxidation, usually within a few months.)
Four lows: (indicates very depleted soil and a very sick plant)
TOTAL CALCIUM less than about 250 parts per million.
TOTAL MAGNESIUM less than about 80 ppm.
TOTAL SODIUM less than about 20 ppm.
TOTAL POTASSIUM less than about 50 ppm.
Write down your plant’s Na/K ratio:
The ideal Na/K ratio is 0.4 for a pea plant. Therefore,
Na/K < 0.4 equals a low Na/K.
Na/K > than 0.4 equals a high Na/K.
IF YOU USE A PLANT TEST:
Now add even more minerals based on the Na/K ratio:
If the Na/K is between 0.01 and 0.045 and, add more copper, at 50 pounds per acre.
If the Na/K is less than 0.01, add copper at 80 pounds per acre.
If the Na/K is above 0.045 but less than 0.1, add 100 pounds of zinc per acre.
If the Na/K ratio is above 0.1, add 200 pounds of zinc per acre.
If you do this right, you will always be adding at least 50 pounds of copper per acre, and often more. In addition, you may be adding some zinc to your soil.
5. The manure. One needs to add at least 100 pounds per acre, or maybe more. Adding too much, or if it is spread unevenly, will burn the soil, but eventually it should work. Try to use a good spreader to distribute the bacteria evenly.
6. The water. Most soil needs to be damp to slightly wet. Dry soil will not adjust or balance nearly as fast or as well. Therefore, you may have to irrigate if your soil is very dry.
Caution: If a heavy rain falls within three days of a mineral application, you may need to reapply the minerals if the rain all runs off your land. If the rain soaks in, the mineral application should be valid. Rain that falls more than a few days after an application of minerals should not disturb the balancing process.
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