Untangling microbial diversity and functional properties of Jeevamrutha

Abstract

Jeevamrutha (JA) is a complex microbial bioformulation derived from local resources (cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, pulse flour, soil, and water) used in traditional Indian organic agriculture. Farmers using JA frequently describe it as inexpensive, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, and it improves plant and soil health. Additionally, limited research studies conducted on JA support the farmers' claim. To increase JA's credibility and acceptability among users, it must be scientifically validated in-depth. It was hypothesised that the structural and functional diversity of microbes, metabolites and proteins is key to JA's success. In order to comprehend the dynamics of JA during the incubation period, physico-chemical parameters and microbial diversity were analysed until the 12-day of incubation. Dynamics of JA's pH, EC, DO, aerobic and anaerobic, and cultivable and uncultivable microbial load determined JA as a fermentative process. Phylum Firmicutes, Bacteriodetes, and Proteobacteria, and genus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Clostridium, dominated the microbial composition of JA. In addition, the presence of bacteria, bacteriophages, fungi, and unclassified microorganisms in JA demonstrated the complexity of microbial diversity. The variety of JA's metabolites (lactic acid, ascorbic acid, caproic acid, succinic acid, betaine, choline, stachydrine, trehalose, etc.), proteins (chaperone proteins, heat shock proteins, elongation factor-Tu, etc.) and exopolysaccharides, that have the potential to promote microbial survival and proliferation in JA and soil. Field trials were conducted for four years under two distinct agroclimatic conditions to assess the impact of JA on soil health. At the end of the experimental period, JA along with farmyard manure/vermicompost, improved soil organic carbon content, water holding capacity, microbial load, and activity to varying degrees in both trials. This study provides in-depth information regarding the structural diversity and functional properties of JA, as well as their significance in enhancing soil health and encouraging farmers to use JA.