Efficacy of neem cake against soil nematodes and fungi on chickpea

Efficacy of oilseed cakes of neem (Azadirachta indica), castor (Ricinus communis), mustard (Brassica campestris), and duan (Eruca saliva) was evaluated against plant-parasitic nematodes and fungi infesting chickpea and also the subsequent crop, mung bean. The parameters recorded were plant weight, pollen fertility, pod numbers, chlorophyll content and nitrate reductase activity in leaves, and root nodulation. Significant reduction was observed in the population Of plant-parasitic nematodes such as Meloidogyne incognita, Rotylenchulus reniformis, and Tylenchorhynchus brassicae, and in the frequency of pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum f. ciceri, Macrophomina phaseolina, and Rhizoctonia solani. Frequency of saprophytic fungi was, however, increased. Manifold improvement in growth parameters was observed. The beneficial effects of different cakes persisted in the subsequent crop (mung bean), i.e., after a lapse of six months.