Sri Gokulakrishna Goshala based in Thiruvallur Dist, Tamilnadu is involved in the manufacture of value-added products Panchagavya and cow dung briquettes, dried cakes, and mosquito coils.
Value-added products from cow dung
- Cow dung briquettes/logs
- Cakes of dried cow dung (வறட்டி)
- Paint from cow dung
- Panchagavya
- Incense sticks
- Mosquito coils
- Dish washer
- Floor cleaner
- Dhoop stick
- Cup/computer sambrani
- Pooja products
COW DUNG CAKES
One of the most interesting products made by them is cow dung cakes and logs. These cow dung cakes/logs can be used to replace traditional wood or coal for burning. The burning of cow dung logs emits much fewer pollutants than burning wood.
Apart from dung logs, they also make and sell flower pots, oil lamps, statues of Indian gods and goddesses, puja kits, dung manure, and biopesticides. All these products are made of cow dung.
Bio-enhancers (a dozen products such as Jiwamrit, Panchgavya, and biopesticide) can be made from cow dung and cow urine, which reduces the consumption of DAP-urea in cultivation.
- 1. Panchagavya
Panchagavya, an organic product has the potential to play the role of promoting growth and providing immunity in the plant system. Panchagavya consists of nine products viz. cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd, jaggery, ghee, banana, Tender coconut, and water. When suitably mixed and used, these have miraculous effects.
- Cow dung – 7 kg
- Cow ghee – 1 kg
Mix the above two ingredients thoroughly both in morning and evening hours and keep it for 3 days
- Cow Urine – 10 liters
- Water – 10 liters
After 3 days mix cow urine and water and keep it for 15 days with regular mixing both in morning and evening hours. After 15 days of the mix, the following and panchagavya will be ready after 30 days.
- Cow milk – 3 liters
- Cow curd – 2 liters
- Tender coconut water – 3 liters
- Jaggery – 3 kg
- Well ripened poovan banana – 12 nos.
All the above items can be added to a wide-mouthed mud pot, concrete tank, or plastic can as per the above order. The container should be kept open under shade. The content is to be stirred twice a day both in the morning and evening. The Panchagavya stock solution will be ready after 30 days. (Care should be taken not to mix buffalo products. The products of local breeds of cows are said to have more potency than exotic breeds). It should be kept in the shade and covered with a wire mesh or plastic mosquito net to prevent houseflies from laying eggs and the formation of maggots in the solution. If sugarcane juice is not available add 500 g of jaggery dissolved in 3 liters of water.
Physicochemical and biological properties of Panchagavya
| Chemical composition | |
| pH | 5.45 |
| EC dSm2 | 10.22 |
| Total N (ppm) | 229 |
| Total P (ppm) | 209 |
| Total K (ppm) | 232 |
| Sodium | 90 |
| Calcium | 25 |
| IAA (ppm) | 8.5 |
| GA (ppm) | 3.5 |
| Microbial Load | |
| Fungi | 38800/ml |
| Bacteria | 1880000/ml |
| Lactobacillus | 2260000/ml |
| Total anaerobes | 10000/ml |
| Acid formers | 360/ml |
| Methanogen | 250/ml |
Physico-chemical properties of Panchagavya revealed that they possess almost all the major nutrients, micronutrients, and growth hormones (IAA & GA) required for crop growth. The predominance of fermentative microorganisms like yeast and lactobacillus might be due to the combined effect of low pH, milk products, and the addition of jaggery/sugarcane juice as a substrate for their growth.
The low pH of the medium was due to the production of organic acids by the fermentative microbes as evidenced by the population dynamics and organic detection in GC analysis. Lactobacillus produces various beneficial metabolites such as organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, and antibiotics, which are effective against other pathogenic microorganisms besides its growth. GC-MS analysis resulted in the following compounds of fatty acids, alkanes, alcohol, and alcohols.
| Fatty acids | Alkanes | Alconol and Alcohols |
| Oleic acids | Decane | Heptanol |
| Palmitic acid | Octane | Tetracosanol |
| Myristic | Heptane | Hexadecanol |
| Deconore | Hexadecane | Octadeconol |
| Deconomic | Oridecane | Methanol, Propanol, Butanol and Ethanol |
| Octanoic | ||
| Hexanoic | ||
| Octadecanoic | ||
| Tetradeconoic | ||
| Acetic, propionic, butyric, caproic, and valeric acids |
3. Beneficial effects of Panchagavya on commercial crops
Mango
- Induces dense flowering with more female flowers
- Irregular or alternate bearing habit is not experienced and continues to fruit regularly
- Enhances keeping quality by 12 days in room temperature
- Flavour and aroma are extraordinary
Guava
- Higher TSS
- Shelf life is extended by 5 days
Turmeric
- Enhances the yield by 22%
- Extra long fingers
- Ensure low drainage loss
- Narrows the ratio of mother and finger rhizomes
- Helps survival of dragon fly, spider etc which in turn reduce pest and disease load
- Sold for premium price as mother/seed rhizome
- Enriches the curcumin content
Vegetables
- Yield enhancement by 18% and in few cases like Cucumber, the yield is doubled
- Wholesome vegetables with shiny and appealing skin
- Extended shelf life
- Very tasty with strong flavour
Acid lime
- Continuous flowering is ensured round the year
- Fruits are plumpy with strong aroma
- Shelf life is extended by 10 days
Jasmine
- Exceptional aroma and fragrance
- No incidence of bud worm
- Continuous flowering throughout the year
Vegetables
- Yield enhancement by 18% and in few cases like Cucumber, the yield is doubled
- Wholesome vegetables with shiny and appealing skin
- Extended shelf life
- Very tasty with strong flavor
Generally, panchagavya is recommended for all the crops as a foliar spray at 30 % level (3-liter panchagavya in 100 liters of water).
Spray system
3% solution was found to be most effective compared to the higher and lower concentrations investigated. Three liters of Panchagavya to every 100 liters of water is ideal for all crops. The power sprayers of 10 liters capacity may need 300 ml/tank. When sprayed with a power sprayer, sediments are to be filtered and when sprayed with hand-operated sprayers, the nozzle with higher pore size has to be used.
Flow system
The solution of Panchagavya can be mixed with irrigation water at 50 liters per hectare either through drip irrigation or flow irrigation
Seed/seedling treatment
3% solution of Panchagavya can be used to soak the seeds or dip the seedlings before planting. Soaking for 20 minutes is sufficient. Rhizomes of Turmeric, Ginger, and sets of Sugarcane can be soaked for 30 minutes before planting.
Seed storage
3% of Panchagavya solution can be used to dip the seeds before drying and storing them.
Periodicity
| Pre flowering phase | : | Once in 15 days, two sprays depending upon the duration of crops |
| Flowering and pod setting stage | : | Once in 10 days, two sprays |
| Fruit/Pod maturation stage | : | Once during pod maturation |
The time of application of Panchagavya for different crops is given as follows
| Crops | Time schedule |
| Rice | 10,15,30 and 50th days after transplanting |
| Sunflower | 30,45 and 60 days after sowing |
| Black gram | Rainfed: 1st flowering and 15 days after flowering Irrigated: 15, 25, and 40 days after sowing |
| Green gram | 15, 25, 30, 40, and 50 days after sowing |
| Castor | 30 and 45 days after sowing |
| Groundnut | 25 and 30th days after sowing |
| Bhendi | 30, 45, 60, and 75 days after sowing |
| Moringa | Before flowering and during pod formation |
| Tomato | Nursery and 40 days after transplanting: seed treatment with 1 % for 12 hrs |
| Onion | 0, 45, and 60 days after transplanting |
| Rose | At the time of pruning and budding |
| Jasmine | Bud initiation and setting |
| Vanilla | Dipping setts before planting |
Effect of Panchagavya
Leaf
Plants sprayed with Panchagavya invariably produce bigger leaves and develop denser canopy. The photosynthetic system is activated for enhanced biological efficiency, enabling the synthesis of maximum metabolites and photosynthates.
Stem
The trunk produces side shoots, which are sturdy and capable of carrying maximum fruits to maturity. Branching is comparatively high.
Roots
The rooting is profuse and dense. Further, they remain fresh for a long time. The roots spread and grow into deeper layers were also observed. All such roots help maximum intake of nutrients and water.
Yield
There will be yield depression under normal circumstances when the land is converted to organic farming from inorganic systems of culture. The key feature of Panchagavya is its efficacy to restore the yield level of all crops when the land is converted from an inorganic cultural system to organic culture from the very first year. The harvest is advanced by 15 days in all the crops. It not only enhances the shelf life of vegetables, fruits, and grains but also improves the taste. By reducing or replacing costly chemical inputs, Panchagavya ensures higher profit and liberates the organic farmers from loans.
Drought Hardiness
A thin oily film is formed on the leaves and stems, thus reducing the evaporation of water. The deep and extensive roots developed by the plants allow withstanding long dry periods. Both the above factors contribute to reducing the irrigation water requirement by 30% and ensuring drought hardiness.
Mrs. Srividya
Sri Gokulakrishna Goshala
Devandavakkam Village
Uthukkottai Taluk
Thiruvallur District
Contact Number – 98433 16206
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r2f9HPNFZg
https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/org_farm/orgfarm_panchakavya.html
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