Year 2017, Volume 2, Issue 2

Year : 2017
Volume : 2
Issue : 2
   
Authors : Suarau Odutola OSHUNSANYA, Ademidotun AYENI, John Adeniyi FAGBENRO
Title : BIOMASS PRODUCTION OF MORINGA (Moringa oleifera L.) AT VARIOUS SOWING DEPTHS IN A COARSE TEXTURED SOIL
Abstract : Different parts of Moringa (Moringa oleifera L.) plant, especially leaves, pods and flowers, are usually processed for human and animal consumption as these parts have been reported to be rich in nutrient elements that are essential for human and animal health. Consequently, a 19-month field experiment was conducted to determine effect of seed sowing depth on biomass production by moringa plant at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Moringa seeds were sown at five sowing depths of 1.5, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0 and 9.0 cm. The results showed that sowing depth significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected emergence of seeds 14 days after sowing in the following order: 1.5 > 3.0 > 5.0 > 7.0 > 9.0 cm sowing depths. Also, number of branches, height, canopy cover and dry biomass of the resulting seedlings were significantly influenced by seed sowing depths. Number of branches, heights and dry biomass of seedlings from seeds sown at 1.5 and 3.0 cm depths were at par but were significantly superior to those seedlings from seeds sown at 5.0, 7.0 and 9.0 cm depths. However, canopy cover was not in a definite order. Data obtained in this study seemed to indicate that sowing moringa seeds beyond 3.0 cm depth in the field may not be beneficial to moringa plant for organic biomass production.
For citation : Oshunsanya, S. O., Ayeni, A., Fagbenro, J. A. (2017). Biomass production of moringa (Moringa Oleifera L.) at various sowing depths in a coarse textured soil. AGROFOR International Journal, Volume 2. Issue No. 2. pp. 5-14. DOI: 10.7251/AGRENG1702005O
Keywords : Moringa, Sowing depth, Seed emergence, Organic biomass
   
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