Multi-omics characterization of microbial and metabolite profiles of Jeevamrit and Ghanjeevamrit cow-based bioformulations used in sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Jeevamrit (JV) and Ghanjeevamrit (GH) are traditional cow-based bioformulations used in natural farming practices, and this study provides a comprehensive characterization of their microbial profiles via 16 S rRNA amplicon metagenomics and metabolite profiles via GC-MS and LC-MS analysis, with two different groups of samples: experimental preparation (EP) and farmer preparation (FP). JV and GH harbored diverse and functionally rich microbial communities, including Lactiplantibacillus, Arcobacter, Comamonas, Planifilum, Pseudomonas, Gp6, etc., associated with nutrient cycling, microbial activity, and plant growth promotion. Untargeted metabolomics revealed ~ 222 (GC-MS) and ~ 1049 (LC-MS) metabolites in Jeevamrit and ~ 96 (GC-MS) and ~ 1208 (LC-MS) metabolites in Ghanjeevamrit. These metabolites were primarily classified as organoheterocyclic compounds, organic acids, lipids, benzenoids, and organic oxygen/nitrogen compounds, and are functionally associated with nutrient solubilization, microbial metabolism, regulation of plant growth, and enhancement of stress tolerance. Multi-omics analysis revealed a clear separation of EP and FP groups with high inter-omics correlations (Jeevamrit up to r = 0.92; Ghanjeevamrit up to r = 0.91). Jeevamrit exhibited dense connectivity with predominance of positive microbial-metabolite associations, while Ghanjeevamrit displayed fewer and more balanced positive and negative correlations. Overall, the study demonstrates that Jeevamrit and Ghanjeevamrit are microbially diverse and metabolically rich bioformulations, reinforcing their roles in enhancing soil health and plant growth. Future works on strain-level diversity, functional pathways analysis, and field trials across different crops and soil types are needed for the standardization and optimization of natural farming inputs.