Oil cakes can help plants in several ways:
Nutrient-dense fertilizer: Oilcakes are high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, all of which are essential plant nutrients. The use of oil cakes as a fertilizer can improve soil health and crop yield.
Soil improvement: By adding organic matter to the soil, oilcakes can improve soil structure and fertility. This can aid in reducing soil erosion, increasing water retention, and encouraging healthy root growth.
Pest control: Natural compounds in oilcakes can act as a repellent to pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria can be found in some oilcakes, such as soybean oilcake. These bacteria aid in the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, thereby increasing soil nitrogen content.