Exploring the potential of cow-based preparation Ghanjeevamrit in salinity stress

Abstract

Salt stress is a crucial factor limiting soil productivity and has become a significant global barrier to crop production, mainly due to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers. One promising alternative is Ghanajeevamrit, a native cow-based organic formulation that offers a wealth of macronutrients, micronutrients, plant growth-promoting substances and beneficial microorganisms like plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). This study focuses on the isolation and screening of plant growth-promoting bacteria from Ghanajeevamrit with the aim of their application in sustainable agricultural practices. A total of nine bacterial isolates were obtained using nutrient agar and were qualitatively tested for their plant growth-promoting activities. In comparison to the control, plants treated with Ghanajeevamrit and GJO2 showed 12% and 26.08% increases in root length and 18% and 31.08% increases in leaf length under 1.4% salinity stress. The GJO2 bacterial isolate could act as a potent plant biostimulant, promoting plant growth and resilience under salinity stress.