International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

Jeevamrit is a fermented input used in natural farming, but the effects of cow dung quantity on its physicochemical, microbial, and enzymatic characteristics remain insufficiently characterised. This study compared different cow dung proportions and determined their effects on the physicochemical, microbial, and enzymatic characteristics of Jeevamrit. The experiment was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, from January to April 2026 using a completely randomised design comprising five treatments, each represented by five independently prepared fermentation units. Each formulation contained 3 L of water, 150 mL of cow urine, 30 g each of jaggery and gram flour, 2 g of rhizosphere soil, and 75, 150, 225, 300, or 375 g of cow dung, designated T₁–T₅, respectively. The formulations were fermented for 10 days and mixed twice daily. On the 10th day, 15 physicochemical, microbial, and enzymatic parameters were assessed. Treatment means were compared using analysis of variance, with statistical significance evaluated at the 5% level. Treatment effects were non-significant for calcium, amylase, total bacterial count, and total fungal count; therefore, numerical differences in these parameters were considered descriptive. Among the parameters showing significant differences, T₅ recorded the highest pH, electrical conductivity, phosphorus, organic carbon, nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase, and protease values, whereas T₂ recorded the highest potassium, acid phosphatase, and urease values. No single formulation was consistently superior across all measured parameters. The findings represent laboratory-level formulation responses, and controlled pot experiments, field validation, and biosafety assessment are required before recommending a standard formulation.