The Neem Team

12 reasons to use neem cake fertiliser

18 November 2024  |  Admin
12 reasons to use neem cake fertiliser

What is neem cake? Neem cake is a by product of neem seed oil production - once the seeds have been cold pressed to expel the oil, the residue of crushed, de-oiled neem seed is neem cake. This is then dried in the sun and packaged as a powder or pelleted for ease of use.

Why is neem cake so good for your plants?

  1. It is a natural, NPK balanced, organic source of nutrients including protein and minerals
  2. It is richer in plant nutrients than manure
  3. It can be spread on lawns and around trees or added to soil or compost
  4. It can be added at any time of year as it promotes balanced growth
  5. It may increase plant resistance to disease as roots take up residual limonoids via the roots
  6. Neem has antifungal properties and can protect roots against fungal die-off
  7. It reduces populations of damaging soil nematodes
  8. It helps acidify the soil as it breaks down, for better plant health
  9. It increases earthworm populations by up to 15%
  10. It increases nitrogen availability for short and long term crops as it reduces nitrifying bacteria (nitrosomonas and nitrobacter bacteria), meaning there is less need for extra nitrogen application 
  11. It increases growth and crop yields
  12. It is a natural, organic, vegan source of nutrients for your plants- unlike chemical concoctions or blood and bone combinations- with a centuries old history of use for this purpose!

Adding neem cake to the soil this autumn increases aeration of the soil and moisture retention, gives neem cake time to break down and release nutrients in time for spring growth, while the residual limonoids protect against grubs, insects and fungal disease. 

Let them eat cake!

Neem Team - Organic Neem Oil Salve

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Dried Neem Drupes

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Neem Team - Gardener's Neem Kit

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Neem Team - Neem Kit for Animals

Neem Team - Neem Kit for Animals

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Organic Cold-pressed Utility Neem Oil

Organic Cold-pressed Utility Neem Oil

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References:

Khan MM et al (1974) 'Rhizosphere fungi and nematodes of egg plant as influenced by oil cake amendments'. Indian Phytopathol. 27:480-484

Vijalakshmi K et al (1985) ' Neem for the control of plant parasitic nematodes' Neem Newsletter 2: 35-42

Abbasi, P. A., Riga, E., Conn, K. L., & Lazarovits, G. (2005). Effect of neem cake soil amendment on reduction of damping-off severity and population densities of plant-parasitic nematodes and soilborne plant pathogens. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 27(1), 38–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/07060660509507191

Bhalla, R. S., & Prasad, K. V. D. (2008). Neem cake-urea mixed applications increase growth in paddy. Current Science, 94(8), 1066–1070. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24100805

Gupta A (2022) 'Use of neem and neem-based products in organic farming' Indian Farming 72(1): 39–40 & Cover-III; January 2022

Rizvi, R., Singh, G., Safiuddin, Ali Ansari, R., Ali Tiyagi, S., Mahmood, I., & Moral, M. T. (2015). Sustainable management of root-knot disease of tomato by neem cake and Glomus fasciculatum . Cogent Food & Agriculture, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2015.1008859

Aghofack Nguemezi, J., & Doumdi Roger, B. . (2020). Effect of Soil Amendment with Neem Seed Cake on Tomato Plant Growth and Development, Fruit Quality and Storability. Journal of Science and Technology, 12(2), 38-45. https://publisher.uthm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/JST/article/view/7387