Biomass production of a young plantation of Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. and Moringa oleifera Lam. in southern Ethiopia

Abstract

In May 2017, a plantation of Moringa stenopetala and Moringa oleifera was established in southern Ethiopia using a spacing of 1 × 1.5 m. The plantation was not artificially irrigated, and no fertilizers or pesticides have been applied. To assess the suitability of cultivation on the plantation, the average leaf biomass production and, secondarily, to evaluate the nutritional potential of both species, three harvests were carried out in November 2017, March 2018 and in November 2018. The leaf biomass was harvested in each trial from the same thirty trees. A principal objective of the study was to describe the suitability of Moringa stenopetala for cultivation in an intensive plantation and to compare these results with the results of cultivation of Moringa oleifera. The results show that in young plantations of M. stenopetala, dry matter biomass production could reach up to 2,824 kg/ha/year, while for M. oleifera, it could reach 6,060 kg/ha/year. One harvest of a M. oleifera plantation's (705 trees) total estimated leaf biomass would yield a one day proper calorie intake for 340 adult humans (irrespective of gender), while M. stenopetala would supply only 123 people, i.e., 1 ha of M. oleifera plantation would supply a one day proper calorie intake to 3,213 adults, while M. stenopetala would supply a one day proper calorie intake to 1,159 adults. Based on the evaluated data, M. oleifera is considered to be more suitable for (growing on) plantations in southern Ethiopia due to its pest resistance and high leaf biomass production.