Effect of Neem Leaf (Azadirachta indica L.) on Growth and Yield of Low Land Rice

Abstract

The farmers of tropical Asia are applying neem leaves to rice fields as green manure traditionally. Neem cake blending of urea is recommended for inhibition of nitrification and increasing nitrogen use efficiency. Field experiment conducted at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India, during kharif and rabi seasons in 1984–85 with a short duration (105 days) rice cv. IR 50 showed that application of fresh neem leaf at 5 t/ha or dry neem leaf 1.25 t/ha with urea resulted in higher N recovery per cent and N response ratio and gave increased grain yield compared to the yield obtained due to the application of urea alone. Besides increasing the grain yield, neem leaf application could save about 50 per cent N application and give greater net returns to the farmer.

Effects of Green Manures and NPK Fertilizer on Soil Properties, Tomato Yield and Quality in the Forest-Savanna Ecology of Nigeria

“…The green manure was harvested from nearby sites. Green tender stems and leaves were chopped and incorporated at 5 Mg ha −1 based on recommendation (Santhi and Palaniappan, 1986) to a depth of about 10 cm, using hoes. The NPK and control plots were prepared the same way as those of green manures, but without incorporation of green manure.…”

“…and pawpaw ( Carica papaya L.) can be used as green manure, but use of their leaves for tomato production has not been investigated. For instance, application of fresh neem leaves at 5 Mg ha −1 or dry neem leaves at 1.25 Mg ha −1 and urea caused higher N recovery and N response compared to application of urea alone (Santhi and Palaniappan, 1986). As another alternative, incorporation of moringa shoots as green manure increased fertility of agricultural soils (Fahey, 2005).…”