GERMINATION AND MONITORING OF THE GROWTH OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM. SEEDLINGS IN NURSERY

Abstract

The study evaluates the germination of the Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds and growth of the seedlings in nursery. The seeds of species M. oleifera have been collected in the city of Brazzaville on the site of the semi-industrial nursery of the National Reforestation Service (SNR) of Kintele located 15 km from Brazzaville. A complete device of two blocks (owing to 100 seeds per block) has been set up in nursery. Each batch of 100 seeds has been subdivided as follows: the first batch of 50 seeds and/or seedlings treated with NPK 12-12-17 and the second batch of 50 seeds and/or seedlings untreated considered as a control block. For the NPK treatment, we have taken 10 grams of NPK (i.e. a full a box of tomatoes soaked in a 10 liter watering). Germination tests have been carried out in nursery at an average temperature of 22°C and an average humidity of 60%. The seeds have been individually and immediately sowned after treatment, and placed on a previously sterilized substrate composed of 25% sawdust and 75% humified earth in 0.5 liter phytocel bag. Overall, the results reveal 146 seeds germinated on 200 seeds sowned, i.e. 73% of seeds germinated. The number of days had a very highly significant effect on the seeds germination (p-value < 0.005). The average height of the seedlings varies from 8.971 to 21.54cm. The highest mean height was 21.91±6.12cm whose the coefficient of variation was 27.94%. On the other hand, the lowest average height was 12.71±2.01cm, with a coefficient of variation of 15.80%. Overall, the seedlings displayed an average height growth of 34.18 cm. Nonetheless, the Student's t test demonstrates a very highly significant influence on the height growth of the seedlings between fertilized and unfertilized blocks (p-value < 0.005). The study suggests that efforts should be deploy for species M. oleifera, used generally in Africa. Reforestation of M. oleifera species with seedlings from nurseries would seem to be the essential technique to ensure the sustainability of the plant.