The Application of Mustard Cake As a Soil Conditioner

Mustard Byproducts Abound

• Globally, 13 to 14 million tons of mustard oil are produced every year, with consumption rising five percent annually. India, China and Canada are lead producers of mustard oil. Canada is the world's top trader in an industry that trades up to six million tons of mustard oil per annum. All of this oil producing creates a massive byproduct. Fortunately, mustard cake is valued as a soil conditioner, so recycling is not a problem. Mustard cake trades 2.5 million tons a year, with India providing 400 tons alone.

A Plant Root Rot Solution

• One of the most injurious plant pathogens is Fusarium solani, which causes vascular wilt and root rot. Plants in the squash family are particularly susceptible. Affected plants are the source of massive crop losses around the world. This fungal disease is genetically highly adaptable and can live up to two years in and on the outer coating of seeds. Seed germination drastically drops and plants that manage to grow are destroyed through root rot. The application of mustard cake as a soil amendment has proved highly effective in combating this devastating disease.

Mustard Cake and Seed Germination

• In addition to adding rich nutrients to the soil, mustard cake apparently kills Fusarium solani infected seeds and soil. According to research at the University of Karachi in Pakistan, sterile and non-sterile soil amended with mustard cake helped cucumber seeds infected with Fusarium solani attain a maximum germination of up to 96 percent. Seed mortality dropped to less than six percent. In non-sterile soil, cucumber growth also increased when treated with mustard cake applications.

Combating Plant Root Infection

• In the same University of Karachi study, mustard and neem cake mixtures were found to be more effective in reducing plant root infections and seedling mortality in gourds and cucumbers than chemical fungal controls. Although mustard cake applications have the highest efficiency combating root infection in cucumbers, no oil cake proved 100 percent successful in preventing or curing the harmful effects of the Fusarium solani fungal pathogen. The prospect of a natural, commercial byproduct recycled in such a dynamic manner is confident progression.