Mineralisation of nitrogen from non-edible oil cakes in medium black calcareous and lateritic soils

Abstract

An investigation on the mineralisation of nitrogen from 6 non-edible oi| cakes, viz., neem, karanja, pilu, kusum, pisa and castor in two typical soils, viz., medium black calcareous and lateritic soils revealed that among the various cakes used, neem cake was the highest in , ; > release of ammoniacal nitrogen followed by karanja, castor, pilu, kusum and pisa respectively in the descending order in both the soils. Lateritic soil was found to be a batter arnmonifier than medium black calcareous soils. The rate of nitrification was highest in neem cake followed by castor, karanja, pilu, kusum and pisa cake respectively in the descending order, in both the soils. Medium black calcareous soil was found to be a better mtrifier than lateritic soil. The total mineralised nitrogen from all the cakes was higher in medium black calcareous soil than in the lateritic soils. In both the soils, neem cake was the highest in this respect followed by castor, karanja, pilu, kusum and pisa cake in the descending order.