It is a type of urea fertilizer that is coated with neem oil. Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a tree native to the Indian subcontinent, and its oil has various agricultural benefits. Coating urea with neem oil has become a popular practice in agriculture due to the following advantages:
- Slow Release of Nitrogen: Neem coating helps in the slow release of nitrogen from urea. This slow-release feature ensures that nitrogen is made available to plants over an extended period, reducing the risk of nitrogen leaching into the soil.
- Improved Nitrogen Use Efficiency: Neem-coated urea enhances the efficiency of nitrogen utilization by crops. This is beneficial for plant growth and development.
- Reduced Environmental Impact: The slow-release nature of nitrogen from neem-coated urea minimizes the environmental impact associated with nitrogen leaching, runoff, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Pest Repellent Properties: Neem oil has natural insecticidal properties. The coating may have a deterrent effect on certain soil-dwelling pests and nematodes, providing some level of protection to plants.
- Enhanced Soil Health: Neem-coated urea can contribute to improving soil health over time. Neem oil has properties that may positively influence soil microbial activity.
- Adaptability to Organic Farming: Neem-coated urea aligns with principles of organic farming due to the use of neem, a natural product.
- Reduced Need for Frequent Application: The slow-release characteristics mean that neem-coated urea may require less frequent application compared to conventional urea, leading to labor and cost savings.
IBM’s Quantum Computing Advancements
- IBM has unveiled its new quantum computing device, Condor, which more than doubles the number of quantum bits (qubits) compared to its previous record-breaking machine.
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Google’s new Gemini AI
- Google has introduced Gemini, an advanced language model designed to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
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- Pixel 8 Pro owners can use Gemini Nano, a version that operates offline, to enhance Smart Reply and the Recorder app. Google plans to launch Bard Advanced in the future, utilizing the more powerful Gemini Ultra.
