Neem cake
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Neem cake organic manure is the by-product obtained in the process of cold pressing of Neem fruits and kernels, and the solvent extraction process for neem oil cake. It is a potential source of organic manure under the Bureau of India Standards, Specification No. 8558. Neem has demonstrated considerable potential as a fertilizer. For this purpose, neem cake and neem leaves are especially promising.
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[edit] Components
Neem cake organic manure has more nitrogen (2-3%), phosphorus (1%), potassium (1.4%), calcium and magnesium compared to farmyard manure. It is rich in both sulphur compounds and bitter limonoids.
According to research calculations, neem cake seems to make soil more fertile due to an ingredient that blocks soil bacteria from converting nitrogenous compounds into nitrogen gas. It is a nitrification inhibitor and prolongs the availability of nitrogen to both short duration and long duration crops.
[edit] Use as a Fertilizer
Neem cake organic manure protects plant roots from nematodes, soil grubs and white ants probably due to its content of the residual limonoids. It also acts as a natural fertilizer with pesticidal properties. Neem cake is widely used in India to fertilize paddy, cotton and sugarcane. Usage of neem cake have shown an increase in the dry matter in Tectona grandis (Teak), Acacia nilotica (Gum Arabic), and other forest trees.
[edit] Pest Control
Neem cake is effective in the management of insects and pests. The bitter principles of the soil and cake have been reported to have seven types of activities (a) antifeedant (b) attractant (c)repellent (d) insecticide (e) nematicide (f) growth disruptor and (g) antimicrobial.
The cake contains salannin, nimbin, azadirachtin and azadiradione as the major components. Of these, azadirachtin and meliantriol are used as locust antifeedants while salannin is used as an antifeedant for the housefly.
[edit] References
- Schmutterer, H. (Editor) (2002) The Neem Tree: Source of Unique Natural Products for Integrated Pest Management, Medicine, Industry And Other Purposes (Hardcover),2nd Edition, Weinheim,Germany: VCH Verlagsgesellschaft. ISBN 3-527-30054-6
- Tewari, D. N. (1992), Monograph on neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.). Dehra Dun, India: International Book Distributors. pp.123-128 ISBN 81-7089-175-2
- Vietmeyer, N. D. (Director) (1992), Neem: A Tree for Solving Global Problems. Report of an ad hoc panel of the Board on Science and Technology for International Development, National Research Council, Washington, DC, USA: National Academy Press. pp.74-75. ISBN 0-309-04686-6
