Evaluation of microbial culture (Jeevamrit) preparation and its effect on productivity of field crops

Abstract

Jeevamrit, a microbial culture, prepared especially from dung and urine of Indian cow is generally advocated for use in organic farming to meet the nutritional requirement of crops. Laboratory studies and field experiments were conducted to know the microbial composition and nutrient content of jeevamrit and its effect on the perfor- mance of rice (Oryza sativa L.)wheat {Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol} and maize (Zea mays L.) wheat cropping systems. The pH of jeevamrit prepared from buffalo, Indian cow and hybrid cow decreased from 8.32, 7.89 and 7.71 at the start to 3.86, 3.65 and 3.56, respectively after 5 days of incubation. The microbial count increased from its initial values in all the cultures. The bacterial count of jeevamrit prepared from Indian cows dung and urine was highest followed by hybrid cow and buffalo, where as the fungal count was highest in jeevamrit prepared from hybrid cows dung and urine followed by Indian cow and buffalo. Jeevamrit prepared from Indian cow and hybrid cows dung and urine did not differ much in the microbial count (bacteria and fungi). The nutrient contents were 0.22, 0.04 and 0.60 g nitrogen, 0.11, 0.04 and 0.06 g phosphorus, 1.09, 0.28 and 0.75 g potassium and 0.46, 0.43 and 0.39 g sulphur in each litre of jeevamrit prepared from buffalo, Indian cow and hy- brid cows dung and urine, respectively; showing relatively higher contents of these nutrients in case of buffalo. The carbon content was more in jeevamrit prepared from dung and urine of Indian cow followed by buffalo and hy- brid cow. The field application of jeevamrit over two years (200910 and 201011) neither alone nor in combina- tion with chemical fertilizers or farmyard manure influenced the grain yield of rice, maize and wheat in ricewheat and maizewheat cropping systems indicating its inability to supply nutrients to the crops in needed quantities ei- ther directly or indirectly through mobilization of native nutrients from the soil.