EFFECT FOLIAR APPLICATION OF PANCHAGAVYA ON GROWTH AND

DEVELOPMENT OF LEAFY VEGETABLE

Spinacia oleracea
V.Sailaja, N. Naga Ragini and C.V.Narasimha Murthy1
Department of Biotechnology and Zoology1
J.B.Degree and P.G.College, Kavali. SPSR Nellore Dt.A.P.
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted from June 2010to April 2012 at Jawahar Bharati
Degree and P.G.College gardens to in order to evaluate the potential of utilizing panchagavya as
biofertilizer, on the leafy vegetable Spinacia oleracea . The biomass, shoot length and root
length were recorded in control and panchagavya treated plants. The total microbial count and
the physicochemical properties of the soil such as pH, EC, N, P, K and OC (organic carbon) were
analyzed. Quantity of Phytohormones like Indole acetic acid (IAA), Gibberlic acid (GA3), kinetin
and Abscisic acid in the manure samples by the method of Unyayar et al., 1996. There is an
increase in biomass (301%), shoot length (88.53 %) and root length (71.03 %) in panchagavya
treated plants over control. The chromatographic analysis of leaf revels that there is an increase
in the carbohydrate, vitamin and mineral content of the leaf. The total viable count and the total
bacterial count of Rhizobium, Azospirillum and Actinomycetes were enhanced in Panchagavya
treated soil. Plant growth substances present in Panchagavya treated soil help to bring rapid
changes in phenotypes of plants and also improves the growth and ultimately improve the
productivity of Spinacia oleracea .

Keywords: Panchagavya; soil fertility, Spinacia oleracea ; leaf quality

Introduction:
Small scale cultivators of vegetable crops in tropical countries use the same piece of land
continuously, and after some years the crops suffer from nutrients deficiency, especially those of
nitrogen and phosphorus leading to poor growth and low yield. Where common NPK fertilizer is
used, the crops also suffer from lack of nutrients not supplied such as Ca and Mg. This is apart
from the problems of scarcity and high cost of chemical fertilizer.
Therefore, there is need to investigate into locally available, cheap organic fertilizers for
vegetable production. Organic farming works at grass root level preserving the reproductive and
regenerative capacity of the soil, good plant nutrition and produces nutritious food rich in vitality
which has resistance to diseases. Due to high prices of inorganic inputs, organic forming has
become the main motivating factor for farmers in India. Thus the farmers are being encouraged
to grow organic produces. Successful organic crop production is still seems to be a big challenge
before farmers. India is a treasure house of unique rituals and traditional knowledge
(Kane1941). These play an important role in every aspects of Indian life including agriculture.
Vrikshayurveda include systemtizations of the traditional practices followed by farmers in the
field from the time immemorial. In Sanskrit, Panchagavya means the blend of five products
obtained from cow, namely cow dung, cow urine, cow milk, curd and ghee (Sugha, 2005). Few
farmers in the southern parts of India have used modified formulations of Panchagavya and
found them to enhance the biological efficiency of the crop plants and the quality of fruits and
vegetables ( Swaminathan et al. 2007, Natarjan, 2002). Some of the problems encountered by
Spinach growers include decreasing soil fertility and quantity of manure required for optimum
crop productivity (Lucas and Ojeifo, 1985; Adeyemi et al., 1987). Inadequate supply chemical
fertilizer and lack of capital to buy them in other countries (Adeyemi et al., 1987; Olufolaji et al.,
1990; Olufolaji et al., 1999). To increase the availability of high quality amaranth throughout the
year at reduction in its price, there is a need to use organic manures in large quantity. Thus, the
objective of this study is to evaluate an organic fertilizer called panchagavya on the growth and
yield of Spinacia oleracea .
METERIAL AND METHODS
Traditional Panchagavya

Panchagavya consists of nine products viz. cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd, jaggery, ghee,
banana, Tender coconut and water.
Method of preparation: In a wide mouthed mud vessel 5 kg of Cow dung and 500 gm of Cow
ghee were mixed thoroughly and kept it for 3 days. After 3 days the following ingredients are
added and kept it for 19 days with regular mixing both in morning and evening hours daily. On
the 20th day 20 liters panchagavya is ready for use. The container was always kept covered with
a mosquito net or cotton cloth.
1. Fresh cows urine 3 liters
2. Cows milk 2 liters
3. Cows curd 2 liters
4. Jaggery 500 gms
5. Water or sugarcane juice -3 liters
6. Ripe banana fruit -1 bunch (12 nos.)
7. Tender coconut water 3 liters
For foliar spray 2 % Panchagavya solution was made with water (v/v) and for soil application
10% panchagavya solution was made and used once in 15 days.
Vegetable cultivation
Spinacia oleracea L Annual herb leaves alternate, ovate to deltoid and often emarginated,
inflorescence terminal, panicled, slender spikes. Stamens and perianth lobes three each. Field
experiments were conducted from June 2010to April 2012 at Jawahar Bharati Degree and
P.G.College gardens .The seeds of green amaranth (Spinacia oleracea ) were purchased from the
Department of Agriculture, Nellore district. The vegetables were cultivated in a randomized
block design with three replicates each with 1.5 cent plot area. One plot is sprinkled with normal
water and labeled as control. The second plot is sprayed with Panchagavya and labeled as
Panchagavya treated. After one hour the seeds of green amaranth are weighed equally for two
plots and sown at a time.
Biometrical analysis

The green amaranth biometric analysis such as Biomass (weight of the plant) was done
gravimetrically. Shoot height and root height were recorded after 20 days.
Soil physicochemical analysis
The soil from control, and Panchagavya treated were analyzed for physicochemical properties
such as pH, EC, N, P, K and OC (organic carbon) following standard soil & manure analysis(
Murugesan, and Rajakumari, 2006).
Microbial analysis
The microbial analysis of soils were done by using standard viable count technique using
hemocytometer and digital colony counter. The media such as, yeast extract manitol agar for
Rhizobium, Azospirillum isolation medium, Azotobactor isolation agar medium and rose Bengal
nutrient agar medium were used for the enumeration of the total bacteria, Rhizobium,
Azospirillum, and Actinomycetes . All the experimental analyses were carried out in triplicates
and the average value were recorded.
Circular paper chromatographic analysis
Test samples of control and panchagavya treated green amaranth each of 2.5 grams were ground
in to a fine paste by using mortar and pestle and individually placed into 250 ml Erlenmeyer
flasks each containing fifty ml of 0.5% sodium hydroxide solution, mixed thoroughly and kept
on an orbital shaker (100 rpm) for 3 hrs. 5 ml of sample extract was placed into a Petri dish then
put the prepared filter paper with a new wick over the solution in the Petri dish. The solution was
allowed to spread up to 6 cm pencil mark. Removed the disc and wick and placed the disc again
on a Petri dish for complete drying in a shade/ dark compartment. After complete drying, the disc
was exposed to a diffused day light in order to develop pattern and color. The differences in
distance (Rf value), colour, pattern and shape of the carrot chromatograms were analyzed.
Extraction and estimation of Plant growth hormones from manure
Extraction and estimation of growth hormones like Indole acetic acid (IAA), Gibberlic acid
(GA3), kinetin and Abscisic acid in twelve organic manures were performed according to the
method of Unyayar et al., 1996.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Spinacia oleracea is a, bushy, green leaf, called African spinach belonging to the family
Amaranthaceae. It is the most commonly grown leafy vegetable of the lowland tropics in India
and Africa. Leafy vegetables require more nitrogen than other vegetable crops hence the need for
adequate nitrogen fertilization.
The data on the impact of Panchagavya on the yield attributes of leafy vegetable Spinacia
oleracea is presented in Table 1. There is an increase in Total biomass (301%), shoot length
(88.53 %) and root length (71.03 %) in panchagavya treated plants over control.
The data on the effect of Panchagavya on the leaf quality of Spinacia oleracea is
presented in Table-II. The data from the tables reveal that application of Panchagavya
significantly influenced the leaf quality by improving the mineral, vitamin and carbohydrate
content of the leaf. Non significant changes were observed with reference to leaf proteins.
The data on Impact of Panchagavya on the soil quality is presented in Table III.
The soil quality parameters such as The total microbial count and the physicochemical properties
of the soil such as pH, EC, N, P, K and OC (organic carbon), total viable count of bacteria and
Quantity of Phytohormones like Indole acetic acid (IAA), Gibberlic acid (GA3), kinetin and
Abscisic acid in the soils are enhanced.
Effective microorganisms can improve soil quality, growth and yield of crops by
synthesizing Phytohormones such as auxins and other growth regulators that might have
simulated the growth of plants (Xu et. al., 2000). Presence of naturally occurring beneficial and
effective

microorganisms

predominantly

lactic

acid

bacteria,

yeast,

Actinomycetes,

photosynthetic bacteria and certain fungi were improved with Panchagavya treatment.
Plants sprayed with Panchagavya invariably produce bigger leaves and develop denser
canopy (Somasundaram et al. 2007, Tharmaraj et al. 2011). The photosynthetic system is
activated for enhanced biological efficiency, enabling synthesis of maximum metabolites and
photosynthesis. Adding panchagavya during the composting process helps to improve the quality
of compost. Using panchagavya also helps to increase the yield and quality of the products
(Subramanian 2005. Compared to chemical fertilizers, this is less expensive and more
ecofriendly with no side effects.

References
Adeyemi M.O., Fakore M.A., Edema A.O. 1987. Effect of poultry Manure and cutting height on
the duration in Amaranthus. Annual Report, National Horticultural research Institute, Ibadan.
Kane,P.V. 1941. Bhojana Sacredness of cow. History of Dharmasastra (ancient and medival
religious and civil law) 2: 773 774.
Lucas E.O., Ojeifoi.M.1985. Partitioning of dry matter and nutrient in two varieties of
amaranths. African Journal of Agricultural science, 12 (1 & 2):3948.
Murugesan,A.G. and C. Rajakumari, 2006. Environmental science and technology, Theory and
Techniques.MJP Publishers, Chennai-5.
Natarajan, K. 2002. Panchagavya A Manual. Other Indian Press, Mapusa, Goa, India, pp. 33
Olufolaji A.O., Kayode P.A., Adeyemi O. 1990.Fertilizer effect on the growth and yield of grain
amaranths. Annual report, National Horticultaral Research Institute, Ibadan.
Olufolaji A.O., Tayo T.O., Kayode P.A., Aadeyemi M. 1987. Analysis of leaf appearance,
expansion, performance of Amaranthus hybrids. Nigerian Journal of Agronomy, II (1): 1220.
Somasundaram E, Sankaran N, Meena S, Thiyagarajan TM, Chandaragiri K and Panneerselvam
S.2007. Response of green gram to varied levels of Panchagavya (organic nutrition) foliar spray.
Madras Agric. J., 90: 169-172.
Subramanian, A.2005. Effect of Panchagavya on Escherchia coli in procured milk. Indian
Veterinary journal, 82: 799-800.
Sugha, S. K. 2005. Antifungal potential of panchagavya. Plant Disease Research Ludhiana 20:
156 158.
Swaminathan C, Swaminathan V and Vijayalakshmi V.2007. Panchagavya Boon to Organic
Farming. International Book Distributing Co., India.
Tharmaraj. K, Ganesh. P, Suresh Kumar. R, Anandan. A and Kolanjinathan. K. 2011.A Critical
Review on Panchagavya A Boon Plant Growth. International Journal of Pharmaceutical &
Biological Archives. 2(6):1611-1614.
Unyayar
Xu HL (2001). Effects of a microbial inoculants and organic fertilizers on the growth,
photosynthesis and yield attributes and economics of rice (Oryza sativa). Crop Res., 31: 1-5.

TABLE I: Impact of Panchagavya on the yield attributes of leafy vegetable Spinacia oleracea .
Mean, S.D. + or indicate percent change over control. Values are mean of 20 observations.
p denotes the level of significance and N.S. Non significance
S.No.

Parameter

1.

Biomass (g)

2.

Shoot length

3.

Root length

Control Panchagavya treated

6.8
0.32
5.633
0.56
6.233
0.67

27.33
1.2
10.62
1.2
10.66
0.3

% Increase or
decrease over control
301.92
P<0.001
88.53
P<0.001
71.03
P<0.01

TABLE II: Impact of Panchagavya on the leaf quality of Spinacia oleracea

Mean, S.D. + or indicate percent change over control. Values are mean of 8 observations. p
denotes the level of significance and N.S. No significance

Chromatographic S.No. Parameter

Zone

Inner

Outer

Panchagavya
treated

Width (Cm)

20.2

3.70.4

Rf value

0.30.002

0.560.07

Color

Dark Green

Pattern of spikes

Average +

Best ++++

Number of
spikes
Vitamins and
Minerals
Width (Cm)

Pale
Yellow
Circular
Thick
151.6

1.0

1.4

Rf value

0.50.2

0.750.3

Color

Light Green

Pattern of spikes

5
6

Number of
spikes
Carbohydrates

Dark
yellow
Light
bands
452.5
Better+++

Better +++

Width (Cm)

2.20.2

1.10.2

Rf value

0.870.3

0.930.3

Color

Light green

Pattern of spikes

Number of
spikes
Proteins

Dark
green
Thin
Regular
554
Better
+++

Best ++++

Middle

Control

Regular
Spearing
655

Strong
Bands
493.5

Thin
Outside
638

% Increase
or decrease
over control
85.0
P<0.001
86.67
P<0.001

333.33
P<0.001

40
P<0.001
50
P<0.001

8.88
P<0.001

-50
P<0.001
6.9
NS

14.55
NS

TableIII: Impact of Panchagavya on the soil quality

Mean, S.D. + or indicate percent change over control. Values are mean of 10 observations.
p denotes the level of significance and N.S. No significance
S.No. Parameter

Control

Panchagavya
treated

% Increase or
decrease
over control
32.08
P<0.001
0.0
NS
366.67
P<0.001
24.4
P<0.001
205.48
P<0.001
173.95
P<0.001
203.45
P<0.001
168.57

1.

pH

5.30.02

7.00.03

2.

0.040.002 0.40.0.1

3.

Electrical conductivity
(m.mhos)
Nitrogen

0.390.1

1.820.3

4.

Phosphorous

0.50.02

1.720.23

5.

Potassium

0.730.5

2.230.6

6.

Organic carbon

7.831.2

21.453.7

7.

Moisture content (%)

8.71.23

26.44.56

8.

Total Viable count(TVC) X

106

17527.78

47057.90

9.

Total Rhizobial count X

106

859.45

23523.87

176.47
P<0.001

10

Total Azospirillum count X

106

6223.2

11214.6

80.64
P<0.001

11

Total Actinomycetes count

X 106

365.1

629.56

72.22
P<0.001

12

Indoleacetic acid (mg/Kg)

0.4690.12 0.8790.029

13

Gibberlic acid3(mg/Kg)

0.5640.13 0.9840.022

14

Abscisic acid(mg/Kg)

0.8100.09 0.9570.044

15

Kinetin(mg/Kg)

0.6250.1

P<0.001

0.9310.3

87.42
P<0.001
74.46
P<0.001
18.15
P<0.01
48.96
P<0.001