The Proceedings of the International Plant

Nutrition Colloquium XVI

UC Davis

Peer Reviewed

Title:
Neem Cake Decoction for Correction of Micronutrients Disorder in Mango
Author:
Muthaia, M. Edward Raja Dr, Indian Council of Agricultural Research
Publication Date:
08-04-2009
Publication Info:
The Proceedings of the International Plant Nutrition Colloquium XVI, Department of Plant
Sciences, UC Davis, UC Davis
Permalink:
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2j42v0fr
Additional Info:
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Keywords:
Nitrification inhibition- Ammonia cal nitrogen-Rhizosphere Acidification –Micronutrient availability
–Neem cake decoction
Abstract:
Mango is the one of the least profitable crop in India. Micronutrient disorders are important causes
of low productivity of Mango in India (6.5 t/ha). The semi arid climate and the high soil pH, free
CaCO3, low soil organic matter are some of the causes for these disorders. Zinc, manganese,
iron deficiencies have been recorded in Mango in various agro ecological zones. Due to the huge
tree, size and 2 –3 vegetative flushes in a year and the immobile nature of nutrients, foliar spray
is not very effective. Soil application by conventional methods has not proved effective due to the
reaction of the applied micronutrient fertilizers with soil of high pH or free CaCO3 and due to the
low efficiency of applied Zn, Fe and Mn (Morvedt,1980). Hence an innovative method using the
rhizosphere acidifying nature of neem cake a product from neem (Azadiracta indica) available
in India was used a decoction of neem cake 5% with 1% ammonium sulphate had the potential
to release NH+4 – 10nos due to nitrification inhibiting property of neem cake. This resulted in
localized acidity and released the Zn, Fe and Mn available in the alfisols in which Mango is grown
in the semi arid tropics. Continuous application of. of micronutrients soil results in heavy metal
enrichment and costly. Hence a LEISA initiative (Low external input for sustainable agriculture
was attempted). A field experiment conducted in Cv. Alphonso (Age 15 years) grown in a soil of
pH 7.2 indicated spot drenching of neem cake decoction in the active root zone (3 metre from
trunk in 25 cm band) once in 15 days for three times resulted in reduction of pH to 5 .8 doubling the
Zn, Fe and B from the 0.72 ppm, 2.8 and 6.2 and 0.43 mg/kg in the untreated control to 0.84,7.2,
and 0.68 mg/kg in treated spots. This increased the leaf Zn,Fe,B from 12,30, and 14 mg/kg in
untreated control to 26, 58 and 62 mg/kg in treated trees within year of treatment.

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Introduction
Low productivity (6.5t/ha) and low profitability in mango is one of the important
drawbacks in its production in India. Mainly small farmers cultivate the 1.3 m hectare
mango in the country spread amongst 0.6m farm holdings. Widespread micronutrient
disorders are (Edward Raja et al 2005) one of the causes for low productivity. Zinc, Iron,
Manganese and boron deficiencies have been recorded in semi arid mango region. About
85-90% of the mango orchards are rain fed, and due to low profitability improved
practices like drip irrigation, fertigation, use of chelated iron are yet to become popular.
Hence to correct the micronutrient disorders, sustainable low cost technologies (LEISA-
Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture) are needed. India is abundant in supply of
neem (Azadiracta Indica) seed cake, which has the capacity to inhibit the nitrification and
enhance N use efficiency. Mishra et al (1975) have established neem seed cake as a
nitrification inhibitor in a laboratory experiment. Besides the NH4-N dominant nitrogen
nutrition (Haynes and Goh 1978) resulted in rhizosphere acidification (Riley and Barber,
1971) which resulted in mobilization of soil micronutrients in available form. This is a
viable low cost technology since supply of micronutrients externally by soil or foliar
spray is not viable for mango farmers of India. Hence a field experiment was conducted
to evaluate the effect of neem cake with a ammonia cal nitrogen fertilizer source on
micronutrient deficiency correction in mango in cultivars Alphonso and Banganpalli, two
premium commercial cultivars of India.

Neem Cake Decoction: A suspension of 5% neem cake (NC) with 1% ammonium

sulphate was soaked overnight and this was drenched in the active root zone of the
mango trees 10 years old in an alfisol of pH 7.3 (DTPA Zn,0.55mg/kg, Fe 4.8 mg/kg, B
0.42 mg/ kg) At 10 litres/drenching three drenching were done in October, November
and December (pre blossom and blossom period) for 2 years 2005 and 2006. The
treatments were replicated 8 times and RBD was the statistical design followed. The soil
was monitored for micro nutrient status and before drenching 6 months after drenching
and leaf was monitored for the micronutrient status both before and 6 months after
drenching.
 Results and Discussion:
Table-1 Effect of neem cake decoction on micronutrient deficiency correction in
mango.

Mango Variety Soil pH Soil available micronutrients Leaf nutrients status (mg/kg)
180 DTPA Extractable nutrients after
drenching 6 months after drench
Before days Before drenching
Zn Fe B Zn Fe B
drench after Zn Fe B
mg/kg
drench
Alphonso 7.3 6.2 0.72 6.2 0.46 12 30 14 17 48 17
I year (0.55) (4.8) (0.43)
II year 7.2 6.0 0.84 7.4 0.54 14 30 16 26 52 18
Banganpalli 7.3 6.0 0.74 6.8 0.63 16 42 17 22 52 22
I year
II year 7.3 5.8 0.96 8.2 0.68 17 44 18 30 58 24
(Values in parenthesis indicate the nutrients in untreated control)

The results indicate there is significant increase in available Zn, Fe in the first year of
drenching with Neem Cake decoction. From a no treated control value of 0.55 mg/kg Zn
is increased to 0.72 mg/kg in the first year (an increase of 30 percent to 0.84 mg/kg an
increase of 52 percent in second year that is very significant in the cultivars Alphonso.
But available Fe also recorded a more significant increase (DTPA extractable) than Zn
due to neem cake decoction treatment. The available B (hot water soluble) B is not
significantly in the first year but it increased substantially in the II year in Alphonso. In
the leaf Zn, also the increase is less in I year but substantial in the II year in Cv-
Alphonso. But in cultivar Banganpalli, for Zn, Fe and B, the increase is substantial in the
first and noticeable in the II year. This increase in soil available micronutrients
(Marschner and Romheld 1983) and corresponding increase in leaf nutrients confirms
(Nye 1981) the effect of NH4-N by nitrification inhibition. It has opened this possibility
of using this low cost technology, which is sustainable. Since the neem cake is available
in plenty in India and ammonium sulphate is easily available, this has opened the
possibility of widespread micronutrient correction at low cost
Reference:
Edward raja. M. Anil kumar,SC Raju, V (2005) Boron Deficiency in Mango
(Magnifiera indica L) A Cause Delineation Study in Acidic Soils of Maharashtra,
India Soil Sci and Pl.Nutrn.55:755-761

Hynes R.J and RM Goh (1978) Ammonium and nitrate nutrition of plant Biol.
Rev.53:465-510

Marschner.H and Rom held (1983) In vivo measurement of root induced pH changes
At the soil- root interface:Effect of plant species and nitrogen souce Z Dflanzen
Physiol11:241-251

Mishra MM. S. Neelakantan, KC Khandelwal . SK Bhasadway and SR Vyas. (1975)

Margosa (Neem) seed cake as an inhibitor of nitrification

Nye, PH (1986) Acid-base changes in the Bhizosphere Adv. Pl. Nutrn 2:129-163

Nye PH (1984) On extimating the uptake of nutrients solubilised near roots or other
Surfaces J.Xoil Sci 35:439-446

Riley, D and S A Barber (12971). Effect of Ammonium and nitrate fertilization on

phosphorus uptake as related to root induced pH changes at the root soil interface
Soil, Sci. Soc Amer, 35: 301-306