Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011

DOI 10.1007/s10661-013-3513-8

Effect of new organic supplement (Panchgavya) on seed

germination and soil quality
Paras Jain & Ravi Chandra Sharma &
Pradip Bhattacharyya & Pabitra Banik

Received: 27 November 2012 / Accepted: 28 October 2013 / Published online: 14 November 2013
# Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Abstract We studied the suitability of Panchgavya applied soils. Application of Panchgavya can be gain-
(five products of cow), new organic amendment, appli- fully used as an alternative organic supplement in
cation on seed germination, plant growth, and soil agriculture.
health. After characterization, Panchgavya was mixed
with water to form different concentration and was Keywords Cereals . Germination index . Root and shoot
tested for seed germination, germination index, and root length . Soil nutrients . Water solubility . Metal content
and shoot growth of different seedlings. Four percent
solution of Panchgavya was applied to different plants
to test its efficacy. Panchgavya and other two organic Introduction
amendments were incorporated in soil to test the change
of soil chemical and microbiological parameters. Fertilizers are the substances that supply nutrients to
Panchgavya contained higher nutrients as compared to plants and/or amend soil fertility. They are the most
farm yard manure (FYM) and vermicompost. Its appli- effective means of increasing crop production. Mod-
cation on different seeds has positively influenced ger- ern chemical agriculture or more precisely the Green
mination percentage, germination index, root and shoot revolution has made an adverse impact on environ-
length, and fresh and dry weight of the seedling. Water- ment, biodiversity, and soil and human health. The
soluble macronutrients including pH and metal were productivity of crops has shown decline trends.
positively and negatively correlated with the growth Many insects and pests are becoming resistant to
parameters, respectively. Four percent solution of pesticides. The use of organic residues represents
Panchgavya application on some plants showed superi- an environmentally, agronomically, and economical-
ority in terms of plant height and chlorophyll content. ly sound alternative, since it provides a locally avail-
Panchgavya-applied soil had higher values of macro and able source of nutrients. In this scenario, there is a
micronutrients (zinc, copper, and manganese), microbial need to adopt ecofriendly agricultural practices to
activity as compared to FYM, and vermicompost sustain the crop productivity and soil health.
Organic matter is an important attribute of soil qual-
ity, as it regulates the physicochemical, biochemical,
and microbiological properties of soil. Tropical soils
P. Jain : R. C. Sharma : P. Banik (*)
Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit, Indian Statistical
are low in organic matter, primarily due to climate and
Institute, Kolkata, India only secondarily because of cultural practices. Organic
e-mail: banikpabitra@gmail.com recycling is vital for optimizing crop yield and restoring
soil health (Chakrabarti et al. 2001). So, any manage-
P. Bhattacharyya (*)
North-East Center, Indian Statistical Institute, Tezpur, Assam,
ment practices, tending to counter act the gradual deple-
India tion of soil organic matter by cropping is always to be
e-mail: b_pradip@rediffmail.com encouraged. Spiraling cost of fertilizers, scarcity of
2000 Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011

traditional manures, and the concern for efficient use of products and found to be more profitable than recom-
energy and natural resources kindle interest in pooling mended fertilizer application (Natarajan 2002). From
of all the available resources in agriculture. earlier studies, scanty information has so far been avail-
Traditional organic manure like cow dung has long able on the application of Panchgavya on seed germina-
been used as a beneficial organic material to soils. tion and soil quality. This study was undertaken to see
However, dumping of this manure in non-scientific the effect of aqueous extracts of Panchgavya, new
ways creates several problems in the environment. Ac- bioresource/organic amendments, on seed germination
cording to the US Environmental Protection Agency, percent and germination index of different seeds, since
one of the main reasons of water pollution is the agri- germination and seedling development are the pioneer
cultural runoff from cow manure. Runoff from cow steps for plant growth. Therefore, the present work was
manure increases nitrogen and phosphorus levels in conducted with the following objectives:
water bodies. This increases the algae population which
1. To find out the effect of Panchgavya on seed ger-
is responsible for the decrease in fish and plant growth,
mination and germination index, root and shoot
leading to the formation of aquatic dead zones. Cow
length of seedlings on some field crops
manure is also responsible for the emission of atmo-
2. To note the impact of Panchgavya application on
spheric nitrous oxide, one of the major greenhouse gases
plant growth and chlorophyll content
(Davidson 2009). Therefore, this material should be
3. Comparative assessment of Panchgavya application
used carefully; otherwise, it can cause ecosystem
on some soil properties with other organic amend-
damage.
ments like FYM and vermicompost
According to Vedic scriptures, Panchgavya is a San-
skrit word; Pancha means five and Gavya means sub-
stance obtained from cow (milk, ghee, curd, urine, and
dung). In other words, it is a mixture of all these five Material and methods
products of cow. It has good medicinal properties
against cancer, tuberculosis, cold, diabetes, asthma, pso- Preparation of Panchgavya
riasis etc. In 1950, James F Martin from USA developed
a solution with cow lactate, dung, seawater, and yeasts Five hundred grams fresh cow dung was mixed thor-
and that was capable of greening degraded land (Yadav oughly with 50 g of ghee and kept in a plastic container
and Lourduaj 2005). Nene (1999) and Singh (1996) for 3 days, stirred twice a day. On the fourth day, cow
reported that cow dung contained undigested fiber, or- urine (300 ml), milk (200 ml), and curd (200 ml) was
ganic matter, various nutrients, and microorganisms. added and after that coconut water (300 ml), sugarcane
Cow urine is rich in urea, minerals, and hormone juice (300 ml), and mashed ripe banana (2 nos.) were
(Reddy 1998). Cow milk is an excellent source of mixed thoroughly into the mixture and kept for 15 days.
sticker and spreader (casein) and a good medium of The mixture was covered with a Muslim (perforated)
microorganism (Nene 1999). Cow ghee contains vita- cloth and stirred twice in a day for 20 min each time to
mins, minerals, fat etc. (Nene 1999) and curd is a rich facilitate aerobic microbial activity. On day 19,
source of microbes (Yadav and Lourduaj 2005). Coco- Panchgavya was ready to use.
nut water has growth hormone that increases crop bio-
mass and yield (Mamaril and Lopez 1997). Panchgavya Seed germination
spray at 1 % reduced the flower drop, increased fruit
size, retained freshness, and enhanced taste, prevented We have taken seeds of rice (Oryza sativa), wheat
fruit drops in peach trees from green worm attack (Triticum aestivum), yard long bean (Vigna
(Yadav and Lourduaj 2005). Agricultural suitability of unguiculata), gram (Cicer arietinum), lentil (Lens
Panchgavya as organic amendment requires that the culinaris), moong (Vigna radiata), moth bean (Vigna
potential for plant growth is predictable after incorpora- aconitifolia), pea (Pisum sativum), dry bean (Phaseolus
tion into soil. vulgaris), and soybean (Glycine max) for germination
Earlier studies showed that application of experiment.
Panchgavya can control the insects, pest, and disease, Different concentrations of aqueous extracts (2, 4, 6,
increase crop productivity, self-life, and quality of the and 10 % w/v) of the Panchgavya were prepared by
Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011 2001

shaking with distilled water at 200 rpm for 1 h using a measured after 60 days by SPAD-502plus and data
rotary shaker at 22 °C and filtering through Whatman presented in the unit of SPAD.
no. 42 filter paper. The treatments tried were as listed:
control (distilled water); Panchgavya: distilled water
Soil properties
(1:50, w/v); Panchgavya: distilled water (1: 25, w/v);
Panchgavya: distilled water (1:16.6, w/v); Panchgavya:
An experiment was designed to carry out the compara-
distilled water (1:10, w/v). Germination study of seeds
t i v e a s s e s s m e n t o f P a n c h ga v y a , F Y M , a n d
was carried out following the method of Panjabi and
vermicompost on soil properties. We have taken four
Basu (1982). Petri plates were washed with 70 % ethyl
treatments viz., control (soil only), soil+Panchgavya,
alcohol followed by distilled water. Twenty-five seeds
soil + vermicompost, soil + FYM. For this study,
of each crop were placed in each plate, which was
vermicompost and FYM was applied to the soil (Typic
covered by blotting paper to protect them from foreign
Endoaquepts) collected from institute campus. To check
elements. Distilled water was used as a control with
the efficacy of the Panchgavya application, experiments
three replicates for each treatment. All the plates were
were also carried out using vermicompost and FYM, the
placed in growth chamber with a light–dark cycle of 16–
most popular and traditional form of organic supple-
8 h and a temperature of 25±4 °C. Distilled water was
ments in India. The experiments were performed in
used to maintain the moisture as and when required. The
factorial modes with a completely randomized block
number of seeds germinated, root length, and the shoot
design by changing the organic amendments. Soil sam-
length of the germinated seeds were recorded after
ples (1 kg each) were prepared on plastic sheets, and
10 days. The following method was used to calculate
amended with Panchgavya, vermicompost, and FYM
the germination percentage:
applied in a quantity to supply the 100 kg N/ha, and
Number of seeds germinated mixed thoroughly. The soil–organics mixtures were tak-
Germination percentage ¼ x 100
Number of seeds sown en into different containers (2 l), brought to the required
Germination index was determined according to the water regimes (60 % water holding capacity), and incu-
formula as given by Keeling et al. (1994). bated at 30 °C under dark condition for up to 60 days.
The incubation duration and temperature were chosen as
shoot length in treatment such in order to fit the typical growing period of rice and
Germination index ¼ x 100
shoot length in control the ambient condition, respectively. To maintain the
water conditions, requisite quantities of sterile distilled
water were added to each plastic container periodically.
Root and shoot fresh and dry weight
Each treatment was replicated three times. After 60 days,
the incubated soils in each container were sampled and
Samples were subjected to oven dry at 60±5 °C till the
analyzed. Basal soil respiration and microbial popula-
constant weight reached.
tion was determined from fresh soil. The remaining
analyses such as pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen,
phosphorous, potassium, micronutrient (Zn, Cu, and
Plant performance
Mn), and organic carbon were carried out with air-
dried sieved soils (sieved through 2-mm mesh). All
Soil (Typic Endoaquepts) from the institute campus was
physicochemical, micronutrient, and microbial parame-
collected, crushed to sieve (2-mm mesh), and weighed
ters were measured according to the method of Page
600 g to fill in the each pot. Sixteen to 20-days-old
et al. (1982).
seedling of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), brinjal (So-
lanum melongena), and kochia (Kochia scoparia) were
transplanted in soil filled pots. Four percent solution of Statistical calculation
Panchgavya was applied at 6 and 20 days after
transplanting. Water was applied as and when required. Statistical analysis such least significant difference
After 60 days survival percentage, plant height and (ANOVA) were carried out using SPSS 13.0 statistical
chlorophyll content was measured (Sadasivam and package to evaluate the difference between the vari-
Manikam 1992). Chlorophyll content in leaf was ables. A Pearson correlation analysis was carried out
2002 Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011

to check the significances of the linear relations between Wheat

obtained variables.
Wheat germination increased with increases in concen-
tration of Panchgavya up to 6 % and then decreased.
Results Maximum germination (90 %) was recorded at 6 % and
minimum (66 %) in control. Root and shoot length was
Comparative study of Panchgavya, FYM, measured longest at 10 % concentration of Panchgavya.
and vermicompost Similar trend was also noticed in case of fresh and dry
weight (Figs. 1, 2, and 3).
Physicochemical properties of Panchgavya, vermicompost
(VC), and farm yard manure (FYM) were given in Table 1. Yard long bean
pH of Panchgavya was lower than VC and FYM. Organic
C and total N was higher in Panchgavya compare to the Seed germination increased as Panchgavya concentra-
other amendments (Table 1). tion increases and maximum value was recorded at 6 %
concentration and then decreased. Root and shoot length
Seed germination and plant health was maximum at 6 % concentration of Panchgavya
treatment. Same trend was noted in the case of fresh
Various proportions (control, 2, 4, 6, and 10 %) of and dry weight (Figs. 1, 2, and 3).
Panchgavya was tested on some cereals (wheat and rice)
and legumes (pea, gram, green gram, black gram, dry Gram
bean, lentil, moth bean, and soybean) to explore their effect
on germination, germination index, root and shoot length, Four percent Panchgavya solution showed highest germi-
and fresh and dry weight per plant (Figs. 1, 2, and 3). nation (100 %). Shoot and root length of gram increased
with increase in concentration of Panchgavya up to 4 %
Rice and then decreased, and their values were maximum at
4 %. Maximum fresh and dry weight was obtained at 4 %
Rice germination decreased with increase in concentra- Panchgavya but minimum in control (Figs. 1, 2, and 3).
tion of Panchgavya and it was maximum at control.
Longest root and shoot was noted at 10 % concentration Lentil
of Panchgavya. Similarly, fresh and dry weight was also
noticed maximum at the same concentration (10 %) Panchgavya solution at lower concentrations did not
(Figs. 1, 2, and 3). have any effect on germination, but higher concentration

Table 1 Physicochemical prop-

erties of organic amendments Parameters PG VC FYM Soil
(mean value ± standard deviation)
Moisture (%) 80±5.6 – – –
pH 6.0±0.3 8.0±0.3 8.1±0.4 7.83±0.5
Organic C (g/kg) 68±2.2 28±2.4 22±3.1 5.85±0.5
Total N (g/kg) 6.9±0.8 2.6±0.5 1.8±0.3 0.6±0.04
Total P (ppm) 48.2±4.2 – – 26.46±3.1
Total K (ppm) 3560±23.6 – – 2980±19.8
Av. N (%) 0.09±0.02 – – 36.4±1.1
Av. P (%) 0.004±0.003 – – 2.65±0.3
Total Zn (ppm) 56.8±6.2 – – 116.6±6.7
PG Panchgavya, VC Total Cu (ppm) 22.9±3.6 – – 49.6±5.8
vermicompost, FYM farmyard Total Mn (ppm) 40.5±4.1 – – 18.9±1.2
manure
Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011 2003

Fig. 1 Germination (%) and germination index of some seeds as influenced by the application of different concentrations of Panchgavya.
Error bars represent standard deviation. (LSD least significant difference)

(6 and 10 %) showed negative effect on seed germi- concentration increases. As the concentration of
nation. Root and shoot length was maximum at 2 % Panchgavya increased, fresh and dry weight of lentil
concentration of Panchgavya and then decreased as also increased (Figs. 1, 2, and 3).
2004 Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011

Fig. 2 Root and shoot length of some seedlings as influenced by the application of different concentrations of Panchgavya. Error bars
represent standard deviation. (LSD least significant difference)
Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011 2005

Fig. 3 Fresh and dry weight (g) with respect to plant weight of some seedlings as influenced by the application of different concentrations of
Panchgavya. Error bars represent standard deviation. (LSD least significant difference)
2006 Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011

Moong water extract. pH, water-soluble C, N, P, and K are

positively and significantly correlated with germination
Hundred percent seeds were germinated when 2 % percentage, germination index, and root and shoot
solution of Panchgavya was applied and then germi- growth (Table 3). Among the growth promoting pa-
nation was decreased with in increasing rate of rameters, N content has the most prominent effect on
Panchgavya. The same strength of solution also reg- the seed germination which is supported by the correla-
isters the highest root and shoot length. Maximum tion coefficient. Water-soluble micronutrients (Zn, Cu,
fresh and dry weights of green gram were recorded and Mn) were studied to see their phytotoxic effect.
when grown with 2 % solution of Panchgavya Water soluble Zn, Cu, and Mn contents (in milligrams
(Figs. 1, 2, and 3). per liter) in the water extracts were in ranges of 2.57 to
4.14, 2.31 to 4.57, and 4.32 to 6.23, respectively
Moth bean (Table 2). All the metals showed an increasing trend
with the addition of Panchgavya in water extract. Water-
Panchgavya application increased germination. Its ap- soluble micronutrients showed negative correlation with
plication also increased root and shoot length and fresh the germination parameters (Table 3). From correlation
and dry weight up to 4 %. Values of those parameters coefficient, it is clear that the Cu exhibits the most
were recorded maximum when plant received 4 % negative impact on seed germination.
Panchgavya solution (Figs. 1, 2, and 3).
Plant growth
Pea
Plant height of Panchgavya-applied plants is significant-
Two percent Panchgavya solution showed highest
ly higher than the without applied plants except brinjal
pea germination (86 %). However, germination per-
(Fig. 4). Survival percentage was also higher for
cent was least at 10 %. Seven times root length and
Panchgavya-applied tomato plants. Panchgavya appli-
five times shoot length was recorded, where 2 %
cation also significantly improved the chlorophyll con-
Panchgavya solution was applied over the control.
tent of plants.
Root and shoot length was equal at 10 % and
control. Fresh and dry weight also followed similar
trend as recorded in case of shoot and root length Soil properties
(Figs. 1, 2, and 3).
There was slight decrement in pH values with the appli-
Dry bean cation of Panchgavya, but other sources of organic
manures increased pH over the initial soil pH. Organic
Seed germination increased up to 4 %. Germination carbon as well maximum in Panchgavya-applied soil
percentage was maximum at 4 % concentration of compare to vermicompost and FYM. Macronutrients
Panchgavya. Root and shoot length as well was highest include available nitrogen; phosphorous and potassium
at 4 % Panchgavya solution. Same was also true in case was estimated higher in Panchgavya applied soil as
of fresh and dry weight (Figs. 1, 2, and 3). compare to vermicompost and FYM (Fig. 5). Organic
Panchgavya application decreased germination per- manures treated soil had higher nutrients than soil alone
centage of soybean in turn shoot and root length. But its in general. Panchgavya applied soil had maximum mi-
application increased fresh and dry weight of plant cronutrient contents embraced Zn, Cu, and Mn compare
(Figs. 1, 2, and 3). to FYM and vermicompost applied soil. However, organ-
ic manures applied soil contained higher micronutrients
Water-soluble contents of the macro and micronutrients than soil alone. Panchgavya applied soil contained many
times higher bacterial and fungal population as compare
Growth promoting parameters like pH, water-soluble C, to FYM and vermicompost. Nonetheless, least microbial
N, P, and K were significantly different among the population was recorded in without treated soil. Soil
concentrations (Table 2). All parameters showed an respiration followed the same trend as recorded in the
increasing trend with the addition of Panchgavya in case of microbial population.
Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011 2007

Table 2 Physicochemical parameters of water extract of Panchgavya (mean value ± standard deviation) (LSD least significant difference)

Concentration pH OC N P K Zn Cu Mn
mg/100ml mg/L

Control 6.5±0.2 – – – – – – –
2% 6.7±0.2 77±3.1 29±0.8 3.4±0.3 120±4.5 2.57±0.6 2.31±0.4 4.32±0.6
4% 6.7±0.3 89±2.8 32±0.6 4.5±0.6 131±5.6 3.11±0.6 2.78±0.5 4.68±0.5
6% 6.5±0.2 101±2.4 38±1.1 5.2±0.5 145±3.9 3.46±0.5 3.35±0.5 5.4±0.4
10 % 6.3±0.2 130±3.5 49±0.6 6.6±0.8 178±6.2 4.14±0.6 4.57±0.5 6.23±0.5
LSD at 0.05P 0.05 3.5 2.1 0.9 5.6 0.31 0.39 0.31

Discussion The higher root and shoot length with Panchgavya appli-
cation may be due to the presence of easily available
Water is a good extractant for evaluating the organic organic C, N, P, K. There was positive and significant
material and also the essential nutrients required by seeds correlation between the water-soluble nutrients with the
during the germination process. There was a significant seed germination. This availability is very much required
positive relationship between pH and growth parameters. for plant nutrition. The germination index values of most
pH increased with increasing compost content in the of the seeds were greater than 100 %, which indicated the
water extract. Similar kind of findings was reported by disappearance of phytotoxicity in the Panchgavya (Tiqua
Okuda and Takahasi (1961) and Saikh and et al. 1996).
Chattopadhyay (1996). Shoot length, root length, % ger- The water-soluble micronutrient (trace element) is
mination, and GI of seeds were positively correlated with readily available by plants (Bloomfield and Pruden
water-soluble nutrients. The positive correlation between 1975). Sometimes, very low concentration of trace ele-
organic carbon with shoot length and root length of seeds ment may inhibit root elongation and delay seed germi-
could be explained by the positive effect of water-soluble nation of a large variety of plants. In this study, metals
organic compounds, particularly the more condensed or were negatively correlated with all the growth parame-
humified, on the germination index that combines germi- ters. Among the trace elements studied, Cu was most
nation and root growth (Zucconi et al. 1981). Panchgavya toxic as reflected by high correlation value. This indi-
contains various types of growth hormones like ABA, cated that soil extract from Panchgavya exerted harmful
IAA, GA etc. (Chauhan et al. 2009). This could be the effects on root growth of the three crops. When these
reason of enhanced germination percentages and health- trace elements are in a mixture, they behave synergisti-
iest plant. Panchgavya spraying also acts as an effective cally or additively (Beckett and Davis 1978).
pest repellent (fruit fly). These may be the reason for Panchgavya applied soil had higher nitrogen, phos-
recording superior plant height and chlorophyll content. phorous, potassium, micronutrients, organic carbon,

Table 3 Correlation coefficients among studied parameters

Parameters Germination GI Root length shoot length fresh dry

pH 0.67** 0.52* 0.59** 0.61* 0.53* 0.57*

OC 0.71** 0.69** 0.68** 0.64** 0.55* 0.54*
N 0.78** 0.75** 0.71** 0.69** 0.64** 0.68**
P 0.69** 0.61* 0.59* 0.57* 0.53* 0.55*
K 0.67** 0.60* 0.61* 0.59* 0.48 0.43
Zn −0.44 −0.48 −0.46 −0.42 −0.39 −0.36
Cu −0.53* −0.50* −0.50* −0.43 −0.46 −0.44
Mn −0.49 −0.42 −0.38 −0.29 −0.33 −0.27

* Significant at 5 % level, ** significant at 1 % level

2008 Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011

Fig. 4 Effect of Panchgavya on chlorophyll content, plant height, and survival percentage of some seeds. Error bars represent standard
deviation. (LSD least significant difference)

microbial population, and microbial basal respiration, organic manures might be due to the release of N
which might be due to that Panchgavya contained all through the decomposition of organic manures (Narwal
these higher parameters in higher quantity over the and Antil 2005). Such enhancement in available N
FYM and vermicompost. The organic C content of the content by the application of organic amendments has
soil was significantly increased with the addition of been reported in several studies (Schulz et al. 2003;
organic amendment. A distinctly higher increase in the Abbasi et al. 2007). The highest value for available N
value of OC was observed in the case of Panchgavya was recorded in soils treated with Panchgavya. Higher
and FYM addition to soil. Earlier studies showed that concentration of available N present in Panchgavya
the addition of other organics like rice mill waste also might be nitrified after its addition to the soil (Walker
increased the OC content of soil, which also supports and Bernal 2008). Low N mineralization from
our findings (Schulz et al. 2003). The OC content of the vermicompost and FYM can be attributed to the fact
soil was also found to increase remarkably by the appli- that most of the easily convertible N is lost during the
cation of FYM, in a study by Mitra et al. (2005) in a composting process, and the remaining N is in a more
rice–peanut cropping sequence. stable form (Eghball 1999).
The available N content of the amended soils showed Soil available phosphorus showed a significant in-
significant differences from control (Fig. 4). The in- crease with the application of all the different types of
crease in available N content with the addition of organic amendments (Fig. 5). Similar results have also
Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011 2009

Fig. 5 Soil properties as influenced by the application of Panchgavya (PG), vermicompost (VC), and farmyard manure (FYM). Error bars
represent standard deviation. (LSD least significant difference)

been reported by Schulz et al. (2003) showing apprecia- other organics to soil (Warman and Termeer 2005;
ble increase in available P level due the addition of rice Bhattacharyya et al. 2007).
mill husk to soils. The results are further supported by Proliferation of microorganisms was increased with the
the findings of Warman and Termeer (2005) and application amendments which may be due to the pres-
Bhattacharyya et al. (2007), reporting higher extractable ence of organic matter. This increase was significantly
P levels in soils receiving composts compared with higher among each other. Panchgavya applied soil showed
control. Addition of organic manures increase available significantly higher microorganisms like bacteria and fun-
P of the soil may be due to the mineralization of organic gi than the other two due to the presence of higher avail-
P; the production of organic acids, which solubilizes soil able nutrients (Alexander 1976). Measurement of basal
P and organic amines, thus retards the fixation of phos- respiration is a dependable procedure for the assay of
phorus in soil (Narwal and Antil 2005). general metabolic activity of soil microorganisms
Application of organic manures significantly in- (Nannipieri et al. 1990). The basal soil respiration depends
creased available potassium (K) content of the soil on autochthonous microorganisms, which inhabit the soil
(Fig. 5). This findings are also supported by the other and are slow-growing microorganisms (Pal et al. 2007).
results obtained, which showed the similar increase of Incorporation of carbon substrates through the addition of
potassium content after application of compost and Panchgavya, VC, and FYM instantaneously increase
2010 Environ Monit Assess (2014) 186:1999–2011

basal respiration. Soils enriched with Panchgavya showed Eghball, B. (1999). Liming effects of beef cattle feedlot manure or
compost. Communications in Soil Science and Plant
significantly increased basal respiration compare to the
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Panchgavya application increased all the studied growth Fly ash—a potential source of soil amendment and compo-
parameters of seeds and plants. Application of Panchgavya nent of integrated plant nutrient supply system. Fuel, 84,
increased macro and micronutrients and microbial activity 1447–1451.
Nannipieri, P., Gregos, S., & Ceccanti, B. (1990). Ecological
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