Neem Cake: Slow Nitrogen, Fights Nematodes
What's left after pressing neem oil feeds crops slowly and suppresses root-knot nematodes. How much to use, when, and why it works twice over.
Vaibhav Dhama2 min readOrganicN ~5%, + azadirachtinUpdated 27 July 2026
Neem Cake
An organic fertiliser that also protects the crop — slow nitrogen above ground, pest and nematode suppression below it.
- Composition
- N ~5%, P ~1%, K ~1.5%
- Form
- Brown cake / powder
- Price
- Moderate
- Best for
- Slow N + soil pest / nematode control
Overview
Neem cake is what remains after neem seed kernels are crushed for oil. It carries roughly 4–5% nitrogen along with some phosphorus and potassium, but its value goes beyond the nutrient figures: the residual neem compounds (azadirachtin and others) suppress soil-borne pests, white grubs and plant-parasitic nematodes.
Because its nitrogen is released slowly as soil microbes break it down, neem cake feeds the crop steadily rather than in a flush, and it is widely used to coat or blend with urea to slow that fertiliser’s release too. It is a genuinely dual-purpose input — fertiliser and soil-pest management in one.
What it is and when to reach for it
- An organic, slow-release nitrogen source that also suppresses white grubs, termites and nematodes — reach for it on nematode-prone and soil-pest-prone fields.
- It is a partner to your main nutrition, not a full NPK replacement, since its nutrient percentages are modest.
- It is a favourite in organic and low-chemical systems, and for high-value vegetables and orchards.
How to use it well
- Apply about 80–200 kg/acre as a basal soil application, worked into the topsoil before or at sowing/planting.
- Blend it with urea (roughly 5:1 urea:neem cake) to slow urea’s nitrogen release — a low-cost, farm-level version of neem-coating.
- Use it around the root zone of vegetables and fruit trees where nematodes are a problem.
Common mistakes
- Expecting a quick green-up — its nitrogen is deliberately slow, so it complements rather than replaces urea for a fast response.
- Treating its nutrient content as a full basal dose and skipping DAP/MOP where the crop needs them.
- Storing it damp, which lets it rot and lose both nutrients and neem activity.
Crops it is used on
Open a crop for its full nutrient schedule.
Guides
Long-form guides on this fertiliser, with the rates and timings worked out.
Common questions
Is neem cake a fertiliser or a pesticide?
Both, in effect. It supplies slow-release nitrogen (about 4–5%) as an organic fertiliser, and its residual neem compounds suppress soil pests, white grubs and plant-parasitic nematodes. That dual action is exactly why farmers value it.
How much neem cake per acre?
A common rate is about 80–200 kg per acre as a basal soil application, worked into the topsoil at sowing or planting. On nematode-prone vegetable and orchard soils it is applied around the root zone.
Can neem cake be mixed with urea?
Yes — blending neem cake with urea (roughly 5 parts urea to 1 part neem cake) slows the release of nitrogen, much like commercial neem-coated urea, so more of it reaches the crop. Mix only what you will apply.
Composition and doses follow ICAR / Soil Health Card guidance; prices are the notified subsidised rates for the season shown and are guidance, not a quote. A soil test for your field always beats a general rate. See our editorial policy.