Neem seed oil: a potent nitrification inhibitor to control nitrate leaching after incorporation of crop residues

Abstract

The effect of neem seed oil and neem leaf extract as organic nitrification inhibitors (NIs) on the accumulation of and , and nitrification inhibition after incorporation of crop residue was investigated in an incubation experiment. Dicyandiamide (DCD) applications of 15 and 30 kg active ingredient ha^− 1 were used as low and high doses of a synthetic NI. Soil samples were amended with 21 g kg^− 1 cauliflower leaves and treated with NIs at a rate of 30 kg ha^− 1 of neem seed oil, 60 kg ha^− 1 of neem leaf extract, 15 kg ha^− 1 of DCD, and 30 kg ha^− 1 DCD. Samples were incubated at temperatures corresponding to field temperatures during fall and winter in Flanders, Belgium. Neem seed oil increased accumulation by 8.9 mg kg^− 1 and decreased by 13.5 mg kg^− 1 within a month. High and low doses of DCD increased accumulation by 48.2 and 1.6 mg kg^− 1, respectively. Nitrification was inhibited by 29% for 30 days by the low dose of DCD, 58% in 30 days by neem seed oil, and 42% in 45 days by the high dose of DCD. Nitrification was not inhibited by the neem leaf extract.

Keywords::

• crop residue
• dicyandiamide
• neem leaf extract
• neem seed oil
• nitrification inhibitor

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Research and Development Division of Belgian Ministry of Small Enterprises and Traders and Agriculture, for funding this research (project S-6059). We also thank M. Remue, V. Van De Vyvere, L. Bauwens, T. Coddens, and S. Schepens for their skilful technical assistance.