EFFECT FOLIAR APPLICATION OF PANCHAGAVYA ON GROWTH ANDDEVELOPMENT 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 cow’s urine –3 liters 2. Cow’s milk –2 liters 3. Cow’s 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):39–48. 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): 12–20. 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 1 Width (Cm) 2±0.2 3.7±0.4 2 Rf value 0.3±0.002 0.56±0.07 3 Color Dark Green 4 Pattern of spikes 5 Average + Best ++++ 1 Number of spikes Vitamins and Minerals Width (Cm) Pale Yellow Circular Thick 15±1.6 1.0± 1.4± 2 Rf value 0.5±0.2 0.75±0.3 3 Color Light Green 4 Pattern of spikes 5 6 Number of spikes Carbohydrates Dark yellow Light bands 45±2.5 Better+++ Better +++ 1 Width (Cm) 2.2±0.2 1.1±0.2 2 Rf value 0.87±0.3 0.93±0.3 3 Color Light green 4 Pattern of spikes 5 Number of spikes Proteins Dark green Thin Regular 55±4 Better +++ Best ++++ 6 Middle Control 6 Regular Spearing 65±5 Strong Bands 49±3.5 Thin Outside 63±8 % 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 Table–III: 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 5.3±0.02 7.0±0.03 2. 0.04±0.002 0.4±0.0.1 3. Electrical conductivity (m.mhos) Nitrogen 0.39±0.1 1.82±0.3 4. Phosphorous 0.5±0.02 1.72±0.23 5. Potassium 0.73±0.5 2.23±0.6 6. Organic carbon 7.83±1.2 21.45±3.7 7. Moisture content (%) 8.7±1.23 26.4±4.56 8. Total Viable count(TVC) X 106 175±27.78 470±57.90 9. Total Rhizobial count X 106 85±9.45 235±23.87 176.47 P<0.001 10 Total Azospirillum count X 106 62±23.2 112±14.6 80.64 P<0.001 11 Total Actinomycetes count X 106 36±5.1 62±9.56 72.22 P<0.001 12 Indoleacetic acid (mg/Kg) 0.469±0.12 0.879±0.029 13 Gibberlic acid3(mg/Kg) 0.564±0.13 0.984±0.022 14 Abscisic acid(mg/Kg) 0.810±0.09 0.957±0.044 15 Kinetin(mg/Kg) 0.625±0.1 P<0.001 0.931±0.3 87.42 P<0.001 74.46 P<0.001 18.15 P<0.01 48.96 P<0.001