neem-paddy
Neem cake can increase paddy yield: study
MRITYUNJAY BOSE
Mumbai: For centuries, Indians have known the medicinal uses of neem tree. Known as one of the fastest growing and life-giving trees, today the properties of neem are accepted worldwide. Eco-friendly products made from neem leaves, its seeds, fruits are in demand across the globe. As regards agriculture, it is already been used as a pesticide.
Now, two Puducherry-based researchers have established that if neem cake and urea are mixed, it can increase the growth of paddy. The study makes a strong case for cutting down on nitrogen applications in paddy, thus using low-cost, readily available neem cake, without compromising on the yield. The study can be replicated for other plant species as well.
The research, conducted by R S Bhalla from Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning, Vazhakulam, Puducherry and K V Devi Prasad of Sustainable Development Programme, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, shows the way for reducing fertilizer applications. Their study was funded by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi under the Science and Society Programme.
"In laypersons terms all we did was treat urea with neem cake by mashing it up and drying it in shade before application. This seems to have two major effects on the way the nutrient (nitrogen) is made available to the paddy (or any other) plant," Bhalla told 'Sakaal Times'.
He said that halving the urea used and pelleting the remaining with neem cake prior to the application achieved significant increase in the growth of paddy plant parts.
Explaining how it works, he said: "It prevents the nitrogen from being consumed by organisms which would turn it back into a gas - and make it un-available to the plant and it slows down the release of the nitrogen so it doesn't wash away with the irrigation water. This is because the urea binds to the neem cake and is not immediately dissolved in water."
Indeed, it is a simple intervention and requires limited amount of work or investment. Neem cake is also a good pesticide and kills off soil pests such as nematodes and deters stem borers.Another aspect of our experiment was that it was conducted with the help of farmers in their fields. "This participatory action research can be a very useful tool for agricultural extension agencies and organisations involved in appropriate agriculture," Bhalla points out.
In their study, the Puducherry-based researchers point out that environmental impacts of nitrogenous fertilizers include contamination of local groundwater resources and rivers and emission of nitrous oxide, which is both, a greenhouse gas as well as a major cause of ozone depletion.
The farmer's field-based experiment-cum-demonstration was conducted in two villages, Thuruvai (Puducherry) and Rayapudupakkam (Tamil Nadu). Results on the non-averaged dataset showed significant increase in leaf strength, number of leaves, number of panicles, number of tillers and greenness of leaves.
MRITYUNJAY BOSE
Mumbai: For centuries, Indians have known the medicinal uses of neem tree. Known as one of the fastest growing and life-giving trees, today the properties of neem are accepted worldwide. Eco-friendly products made from neem leaves, its seeds, fruits are in demand across the globe. As regards agriculture, it is already been used as a pesticide.
Now, two Puducherry-based researchers have established that if neem cake and urea are mixed, it can increase the growth of paddy. The study makes a strong case for cutting down on nitrogen applications in paddy, thus using low-cost, readily available neem cake, without compromising on the yield. The study can be replicated for other plant species as well.
The research, conducted by R S Bhalla from Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning, Vazhakulam, Puducherry and K V Devi Prasad of Sustainable Development Programme, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, shows the way for reducing fertilizer applications. Their study was funded by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi under the Science and Society Programme.
"In laypersons terms all we did was treat urea with neem cake by mashing it up and drying it in shade before application. This seems to have two major effects on the way the nutrient (nitrogen) is made available to the paddy (or any other) plant," Bhalla told 'Sakaal Times'.
He said that halving the urea used and pelleting the remaining with neem cake prior to the application achieved significant increase in the growth of paddy plant parts.
Explaining how it works, he said: "It prevents the nitrogen from being consumed by organisms which would turn it back into a gas - and make it un-available to the plant and it slows down the release of the nitrogen so it doesn't wash away with the irrigation water. This is because the urea binds to the neem cake and is not immediately dissolved in water."
Indeed, it is a simple intervention and requires limited amount of work or investment. Neem cake is also a good pesticide and kills off soil pests such as nematodes and deters stem borers.Another aspect of our experiment was that it was conducted with the help of farmers in their fields. "This participatory action research can be a very useful tool for agricultural extension agencies and organisations involved in appropriate agriculture," Bhalla points out.
In their study, the Puducherry-based researchers point out that environmental impacts of nitrogenous fertilizers include contamination of local groundwater resources and rivers and emission of nitrous oxide, which is both, a greenhouse gas as well as a major cause of ozone depletion.
The farmer's field-based experiment-cum-demonstration was conducted in two villages, Thuruvai (Puducherry) and Rayapudupakkam (Tamil Nadu). Results on the non-averaged dataset showed significant increase in leaf strength, number of leaves, number of panicles, number of tillers and greenness of leaves.
Comments