The use of cow dung has been indicated since the time of Kautilya (c. 300 BC). It was used for dressing seeds, plastering cut ends of vegetative propagating sugarcane, dressing wounds, sprinkling diluted suspension on plants etc. since ancient times. Still Indian farmers use cow dung in different ways but agricultural scientists have ignored its importance.
Agricultural scientists think that it can be used as manure only. Cow dung is a mixture of dung and urine, generally in the ratio of 3:1. It contains crude fibre, crude protein and materials that can be obtained in nitrogen–free extracts and ether extracts. The cow dung also contains micronutrients. The urine portion of cow dung consists of nitrogen, potash, sulphur and traces of phosphorus.
When seed is treated with cow dung in various ways, it gets coated with cow dung residue that contains cellulose, hemi cellulose, micronutrients, metabolic nitrogen, epithelial cells from the animals, bile salt and pigment, potash, sulphur, traces of phosphorus and a large number of bacteria. This thin dry layer of residue on seed absorbs moisture from the surrounding soil to the advantage of the seed. The presence of bacteria in cow dung plays a significant role in the development of the seed. As these cow dung bacteria have the capacity to utilize cellulose, hemi cellulose and pectin, so these can quickly colonize the area around sown seed and compete with the pathogenic fungi and bacteria and prevent them from attacking the seed.
As Indian farmers are using cow dung for a long time, they are convinced of its utility. Now it is the duty of agricultural scientists to take initiative, as there is a lot to learn about the role of cow dung in maintaining the seed health. Dried cow dung powders could also be applied to soil to promote bio-control.
Extracted from AgriGold SwarnaSedyam
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