Microbial characterization of cow pat pit and biodynamic preparations used in biodynamic agriculture

R A RAM; ATUL SINGHA; A KUMAR

doi:10.56093/ijas.v89i2.87004

Authors

R A RAM Principal Scientist (Horticulture), ICAR- Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226 101
ATUL SINGHA Scientist (Agricultural Microbiology), ICAR- Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226 101
A KUMAR Student, ICAR- Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226 101

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v89i2.87004

Keywords:

Actinomycetes, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, BD-500, Cow pat pit, Plant growth promoting activities

Abstract

As of today, biodynamic agriculture is practised across 60 countries of the world. Cow pat pit (CPP) and biodynamic preparations (BD) are the key components of biodynamic agriculture. However, there a is dearth of scientific explanation on account of their mode of action. CPP and BD preparations are very effective in compost production, soil health management and eventually, enhancing the yield and quality of crop produce. Efficacies of these preparations were evaluated with isolation and characterization of beneficial microbes. Study revealed that CPP contained maximum gram positive and gram negative bacteria (184 Â± 14 Ã— 105cfu/g), (225 Â± 9 Ã— 105cfu/g) and Rhizobium (310 Â± 24 Ã— 107cfu/g), while BD-507 contained the highest number of actinomycetes (792 Â± 194 Ã— 106cfu/g) and Azotobacter (201 Â± 14 Ã— 105cfu/g) among the all preparations. Actinomycetes isolated from CPP and BD-507, showed ammonia, indole acetic acid (IAA), siderophore and HCN producing activities. Out of total isolated microbes from CPP and BD preparations, 9 isolates showed high ammonia, 23 IAA, 18 siderophore and 12 HCN producing activities. Based on the study, it may be suggested that CPP and BD preparations may be used as bio-inoculants and combined with compost in organic production of various crops.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bakker P A H M, Bakker A W, Marugg J D, Weisbeek P J and Schippers B. 1987. Bioassay for studying the role of siderophores in potato growth stimulation by Pseudomonas sp in short potato rotations. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 19: 443–9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(87)90036-8

Bric J M, Bostock R M and Silver Stone S E. 1991. Rapid in situ assay for indole acetic acid production by bacteria immobilized on a nitrocellulose membrane. Applied Environmental Microbiology 57 (2): 535–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.57.2.535-538.1991

Deffune G and A M Scolfied. 1995. Effects of humic acids and three bio-dynamic preparations on the growth of wheat seedlings. (In) Proc. 3rd ESA Congress, Abano-Podova, Paper Ref No. 3–56.

Droogers P and Bouma J. 1996. Biodynamic vs. conventional farming effects on soil structure expressed by simulated potential productivity. Soil Science Society of America Journal 60: 1552–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1996.03615995006000050038x

Fred E B, Baldwin I L and McCoy F. 1932. Root nodule bacteria and leguminous plants with supplement. University of Wisconsin study in Science 5 WI, 343 p.

Goud W D, Hagedorn C, Bardinelli T R and Zablotowiez R M. 1985. New selective medium for enumeration and recovery for fluorescent pseudomonads from various habitats. Applied Environmental Microbiolology 49: 28–32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.49.1.28-32.1985

Hagedorn C and Holt J G.1954. Ecology of soil arthrobactrers in Clarion-Websters toposequence of Iowa. Applied Microbiology 29: 211–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/am.29.2.211-218.1975

Jensen H L. 1954. The Azotobacteriaceae. Bacterial Review 18: 195–214. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/br.18.4.195-214.1954

Koepf H H, Pettersson B D and Schaumann W. 1990. Bio-Dynamic Agriculture: Practical Applications of the Bio-Dynamic Method. Anthroposophic Press, Hudson, New York.

Norris J R and Chapman H M. 1968. Classification of Azotobacter. (In): Identification Methods for Microbiologists, pp 19–27. Gibbs B M and Shapton D A(Eds), Academic Press, London and New York.

Okon Y, Alberecht S L and Burris R H. 1977. Methods for growing Spirillum lipoferum and for counting it in pure culture and in association with plants. Applied Environmental Microbiology 33: 85–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.33.1.85-88.1977

Panse V G and Sukhatme P V. 1976. Statistical Methods for Agricultural Works. ICAR, New Delhi.

Pathak R K and Ram R A. 2003. Role of cow in agriculture. (In) National Seminar on Cow in Agriculture and Human Health, Organized by Asian Agri-History Foundation, p 59.

Perumal K V, Varadarajan S, Murugappa A. 2006. Production of plant growth hormones and subtilin from organic biodynamic manures organic farming - Advantages and disadvantages for soils, water quality and sustainability. (In) 18th World Congress of Soil Science, July, 9-15, 2006 held at Philipadaia, USA 162: 4. 1A.

Pikovskaya R E. 1948. Mobilization of phosphorous in soil in connection with vital activity of some microbial species. Mikrobiology 17: 363–70.

Pathak R K and Ram R A. 2003. Role of cow in agriculture. (In) National Seminar on Cow in Agriculture and human health, Organized by Asian Agri-History Foundation, p 59.

Radha T K and Rao D L N. 2014. Plant Growth promoting bacteria from cow dung based biodynamic preparations. Indian Journal of Microbiology 54 (4): 413–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12088-014-0468-6

Reganold J P, Palmer A S, Lockhart J C, and MacGregor A N. 1993. Soil quality and financial performance of biodynamic and conventional farms in New Zealand. Science 260: 344–9, 24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.260.5106.344

Shankaraswamy J, Arakeri K B and Mantena S V. 2017. Bio dynamic farming: A future agriculture farming. Adv Plants Agric Res 6(2): 00209. DOI: 10.15406/apar.2017.06.00209. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15406/apar.2017.06.00209

Stalin V, Perumal K, Stanley Abraham L and Kalaichelvan P T. 2010. Screening and production of subtilin from Bacillus subtilis isolated from nutrient-rich organic and biodynamic manures. IUP Journal Life Science 4: 34–44.

Steiner R. 1997. Theosophy. An Introduction to the Supersensible Knowledge of the World and the Destination of Man. Anthrosophic Press, Hudson, New York.

Steiner R. 1993. Agriculture: Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture. Anthroposophic Press, New York.