Panchagavya and its effect on the growth of the greengram cultivar K-851.

Abstract

Agriculture is the means of livelihood for millions of people in India with crops chiefly dependent on rainfall and fertilizers. India is not only self-sufficient in food production but also has a substantial reserve. The traditional practice followed in agriculture is application of chemical fertilizers, biofertilizers and organic manures. India is the third largest producer and consumer of fertilizers in the world. The increasing cost and unavailability of fertilizers, growing ecological concern and the governments interest in promoting the organic farming have forced us to try new methods of application of nutrients in the form of Panchagavya, vermiwash, vermicompost etc. Nene (1999) symphasized that cow dung had been used since long back in India as reported by Kautilya (321 – 296 BC), Varahamithira (505 – 587 AD), Surapala (1000 AD) and Someshwara Deva (1126 AD). It contained undigested fibre, epithelial cells, pigments and salts rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, micronutrients, and intestinal bacteria and mucous. Singh (1996) recorded that cow dung had water 82% and solid matter 18% (minerals 0.1%, ash 2.4% organic manure 14.6%, Ca and Mg 0.4%, SO 4 0.05%, silica 1.5%, N 0.5%, P 0.2%, and K 0.5%). Accepted : March, 2009