Journal of Farm Sciences

Use of Beejamrutha, a mix of cow dung, cow urine, water, lime and a handful of soil has been given importance in sustainable agriculture since age old days. It is also one such organic product helpful for the plant growth. The beneficial microorganisms present in beejamrutha are known to protect the crop from harmful soil-borne and seed-borne pathogens. Bacteria were isolated from beejamrutha and tested for their beneficial traits. These isolates were capable of N2-fixation, Psolubilization and IAA, GA production in addition to suppression of Sclerotium. Among the free living N2-fixers, isolate AzB2 registered highest amount of N2 fixation (13.71 mg/g carbon source utilized) where as BPS3 released maximum amount of Pi (8.15 per cent) among phosphate solubilizing bacteria isolated from beejamrutha. The isolate BJ5 was found to produce highest amount of IAA (11.36 µg/25ml) and GA (3.13µg/25ml). Inoculation of the bacterial isolates from beejamrutha also resulted in improvement in seed germination, seedling length and seed vigour in soybean. Among the treatments, seeds inoculated with BJ5 has registered significantly higher seedling length and seedling vigour index while the seedling length and seedling vigour index was markedly lowest in control.

Beejamrutha: a source for beneficial bacteria.