Abstract
PurposeThe need for increasing production of Moringa oleifera in Nigeria can be achieved through adequate fertilization. This study investigated the effects of sources and rates of NPK (15:15:15) and compost on soil properties and productivity of Moringa at National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria.MethodsNPK was applied at 30, 60, and 90 kg N/ ha, cow dung (CD), poultry manure (PM) and organomineral (OM) were applied at 10, 20 and 30 tons/ha. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Organic fertilizers were incorporated into the soil 2 weeks before sowing; NPK was split applied at 2 and 5 weeks after sowing. Seeds were sown at 75 cm × 75 cm spacing. Data were taken on plant height (cm), stem girth (cm), number of leaves, leaf biomass, stems weight and post-planting soil properties.ResultsGrowth values for NPK and compost treatments were higher than the control. PM applied at 30 tons ha−1 resulted in highest growth values: plant height (65.91 cm), stem girth (1.51 cm) and number of leaves (14.20). PM applied at 30 tons ha−1 gave higher stem weight (2249.9 g) and leaf biomass (3610.5 g). Post-planting soil analysis indicated that nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, manganese, iron and zinc contents were higher in plots with organic and inorganic fertilizers except for potassium and magnesium.ConclusionPM proved more superior to CD manure and others because it produced better growth attributes such as shoot height, stem girth and number of leaves and leaf biomass than its counterparts produced.
Highlights
Moringa oleifera, known as horseradish tree, is a medium-sized tree belonging to the family Moringaceae; it is adapted to a wide range of soil types, but grows best in well-drained loam to clay loam, neutral to slightly acidic soils, but cannot withstand prolonged water logging
This study investigated the effects of sources and rates of NPK (15:15:15) and compost on soil properties and productivity of Moringa at National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria
poultry manure (PM) applied at 30 tons ha-1 gave higher stem weight (2249.9 g) and leaf biomass (3610.5 g)
Summary
Known as horseradish tree, is a medium-sized tree belonging to the family Moringaceae; it is adapted to a wide range of soil types, but grows best in well-drained loam to clay loam, neutral to slightly acidic soils, but cannot withstand prolonged water logging. According to Fuglie (1999), the uses of Moringa included, but not limited to alley cropping (biomass production), animal forage (leaves and treated seed-cake), biogas (leaves), domestic cleaning agent (crushed leaves), blue dye (wood), fencing (living trees), fertilizer (seedcake), foliar nutrient (juice expressed from the leaves), green manure (leaves), gum (tree trunks), honey and sugar cane juice-clarifier (powdered seeds), medicine (all plant parts), ornamental plantings, biopesticide (soil incorporation of leaves to prevent seedling damping off), pulp (wood), rope (bark), tannin for tanning hides (bark and gum), water purification (powdered seeds) and Moringa seed oil (yield 30–40% by weight) It is a good source of vitamin A, vitamins B and C, essential minerals, and the sulphur-containing amino acids, methionine and cysteine (Bosch et al 2004). The available data (Yazzie et al 1994; Nordeide et al 1996) show that leaves contain 13–15% protein, 60–70% carbohydrate, 4–10% fat, around 11% fiber, 16% ash and the energy value varies from 1180 to 1900 kJ/100 g of which 80% are metabolisable energy
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