Assessment of nitrogen mineralization potential and availability from neem seed residue in a savanna soil

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) mineralization and availability from neem seed residue after oil extraction was studied in a laboratory incubation and greenhouse cropping. Several decomposition models were tested for estimating potentially mineralizable N and mineralization rates from the residue. Net N mineralization was best described by a Gompertz function and a mixed-order rate model with R2=0.996 for each and residual mean square error (RMSE)=8.3 for the Gompertz function and 8.8 for the mixed-order rate model. A consecutive reaction model also fitted the data closely (R2=0.983; RMSE=16.6) and is preferable to a Gompertz function or a mixed-order rate model because of its mechanistic basis. Potentially mineralizable N estimated by the decomposition models ranged from 335 to 489 mg N kg–1 representing between 32% and 43% of total N applied. Actual cumulative N mineralized in a 98-day incubation period was 339 mg N kg–1 soil. Bio-available N from neem residue and inorganic N (urea) with maize as a test crop in a greenhouse cropping gave similar biomass yield and N uptake, suggesting rapid N mineralization from neem residue to meet plant nutrition.