Abstract
Moringa oleifera Lam. (MO) is a small size multipurpose tree of approximately 5 to 10 m in height which is cultivated all over the world. The study was conducted in the Guinea Savanna and the semi-deciduous forest zones of Ghana in December 2011 to compare the nutrient levels of MO leaves from the two agro-ecological zones. Leaf samples were collected from three randomly selected districts in each ecological zone for proximate and chemical analysis of some macro and micro nutrient. The results show no significant difference in crude protein and carbohydrate levels of MO leaves from the two ecological zones, however MO leaves from the semi-deciduous forest zone recorded a slightly higher mean crude protein value of 26.54% than the Guinea savanna value of 25.65%. MO leaves from the semi-deciduous forest and the Guinea Savanna recorded mean calcium values of 1880 and 1474.33 mg per 100 g of leaf powder, respectively. The comparison of mean values of potassium and iron of MO leaves showed no significant difference between MO leaves from the two ecological zones. The research concluded that agro ecological zonation had no significant effect on the levels of most nutrients in MO leaves. Key words: Moringa oleifera, ecological zone, Guinea Savanna, semi-deciduous forest, nutrients.
Highlights
Moringa oleifera Lam (MO) is the most widely cultivated species of a monogeneric family, the Moringaceae (Fahey, 2005)
Levels of Ca were higher in the semi-deciduous forest zone (813.33 mg/kg) than in the Guinea savanna (505.33 mg/kg) there was no statistical difference between the two zones
The mean levels of iron (Fe) in MO leaves from the semi-deciduous forest and the Guinea savanna zones recorded close mean values of 26.83 mg/100 g and 25.043 mg/100 g, respectively (Table 2)
Summary
Moringa oleifera Lam (MO) is the most widely cultivated species of a monogeneric family, the Moringaceae (Fahey, 2005). The tree is an aboriginal of Indian subcontinent and has become naturalized in the tropical and subtropical areas around the world (Farooq et al, 2012). While it grows best in dry sandy or loamy soil that is slightly alkaline (Abdul, 2007; Anjorin et al, 2010), it is adaptable to various soil conditions from 4.5 to 8.0 pH, but does not tolerate water logging, freezing or frosts conditions (Radovich, 2011). White corky and branches bearing a gummy bark. The flowers are white and the three wing seeds are scattered by the winds (Farooq et al, 2012)
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