Early establishment performance of Moringa oleifera Lam. Seeds according to different storage dates

Abstract

Moringa oleifera, a multi-purpose woody species that is increasingly being cultivated in Burkina Faso. The purpose of this study is to determine the best way to produce Moringa seedlings. The study was conducted at AMIFOB, Ouagadougou in (12°7’32’’N et 01°40’24’’W). Germination tests of Moringa seeds and seedling growth were carried out with newly harvested seeds, one and two-year-old, in plastic pots and directly on the ground, arranged together in ambient atmospheres receiving a daily water supply of 250 ml. Seedlings from the pots are transplanted to the same substrate on the 35th day after sowing. The results showed that the age of the seed has a significant effect on the germination rate of the seeds (p<0.05). Older seeds have a low germination rate (42.33%). After 35 days after germination, the height and collar diameter growth of potted seedlings is higher than that of direct seeding. Seedlings emerging from the ground have a recovery rate of 81.35%. On the other hand, those in the pots have a 100% recovery rate. Sixty-five days after transplanting, potted seedlings and those growing on the ground showed no significant difference in growth in height and diameter (p>0.05). The recovery rate for seedlings from pots is 83.33% compared to 65.56% for those from direct seeding on the ground. The germination rate of older seeds is low and the water content of the substrate influences the germination rate of Moringa seeds.