Advantages of De-oiled Castor cake in Agriculture

Abstract

The soils of India are poor in availability of plant nutrients. As about 97 per cent of soil samples analysed were deficient in nitrogen, 83 per cent soil samples in phosphorus and 71 per cent in potash. Oil cakes are rich in fibre, protein and energy contents. Castor cake is the primary byproduct generated after castor oil production from castor bean plant (RicinuscommunisL).In general, one tonne of castor oil production results in 2.4 tons of castor cake by-product. This is due to castor cake has a high nitrogen content and a low carbon to nitrogen ratio, and the nitrogen in castor cake can be readily mineralized and available for plant uptake once applied to soil, which makes castor cake an excellent nitrogen source for organic farming. each tonne of Castor De oiled cake contains nearly: 45 kg nitrogen (approx. 90 kg urea; 46 %N); 10 kg phosphorus (22 kg DAP; 18 % N; 46 % P O ) and 10 kg potash (17 kg MOP; (60 % K O), close 2 5 2to 130 kg of fertilizers urea + DAP + MOP. The castor meal or de oiled cake are suitable for cereals, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, banana, castor, vegetables, spices, floriculture, medicinal plants, plantation crops in general and high value export-oriented crops or organic farming in particular.