Evaluation of different nutritional and soil sources on the early growth of Moringa oleifera (Lam.)

M. O. Ojo

Abstract
In any plantation establishment programme their must be adequate number of healthy seedlings and these depend on the nutrition and care given to them at the nursery stage. Pot experiment was conducted to assess the response of Moringa oleifera (Lam.) seedlings to different soil and nutritional sources at nursery stage. One hundred seeds were obtained from Centre for Environmental Renewable Resources Research and Development (CENRAD), Ibadan, Nigeria, and sown in germination trays. Seed germination was completed between 10-15 days, 36 uniformly growing seedlings were transplanted into polythene pots of size 29 cm x 25 cm and were filled with different soil sources at 500 g (arable) soil, forest reserve soil and natural forest mixed with nutritional sources of the same ratio (10 g) i.e. poultry manure, cow dung and NPK (15:15:15). The experiment was factorial arranged in a completely randomized design. Result showed that pots with natural forest soil mixed with 10 mg NPK (s3f3) produced seedlings with highest value. In plant height (76.30 cm), stem diameter (3.47 mm) and number of branches (10) which was significantly different (p > 0.01) from the other treatments. The least value in plant height (30.70 cm) stem diameter (1.50 mm) and number of branches (3.3) were recorded in pots with forest reserve soil mixed with cow dung (s2f2). Interaction effect of soil and nutritional sources were significant for all the growth parameters assessed (p > 0.01). Natural forest soils treated with NPK (15:15:15) should be employed in raising Moringa oleifera seedlings at nursery stage for optimum performance.

Keywords
Moringa; Growth; Nutritional sources; Soil.

Resumo
Avaliação de diferentes fontes nutricionais e do solo no crescimento precoce de Moringa oleifera (Lam.). Em qualquer programa de estabelecimento de plantações, deve haver um número adequado de mudas saudáveis e isso depende da nutrição e dos cuidados que lhes são prestados no estágio do viveiro. Foi conduzido experimento em vaso para avaliar a resposta de mudas de Moringa oleifera (Lam.) a diferentes fontes nutricionais e do solo na fase de viveiro. Foram obtidas 100 sementes no Centre for Environmental Renewable Resources Research and Development (CENRAD), Ibadan, Nigéria, e semeadas em bandejas de germinação. A germinação das sementes foi concluída entre 10 a 15 dias, 36 mudas de crescimento uniforme foram transplantadas em vasos de polietileno de tamanho 29 cm x 25 cm e foram preenchidas com diferentes fontes de solo a 500 g (arável) de solo, solo de reserva florestal e floresta natural misturada com nutrientes fontes da mesma proporção (10 g), isto é, esterco de aves, esterco de vaca e NPK (15:15:15). O experimento foi fatorial arranjado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. O resultado mostrou que vasos com solo florestal natural misturado com 10 mg NPK (s3f3) produziram mudas com maior valor. Na altura da planta (76,30 cm), diâmetro do caule (3,47 mm) e número de ramos (10) os resultados foram significativamente diferentes (p > 0,01) em comparação aos demais tratamentos. O menor valor em altura da planta (30,70 cm), no diâmetro do caule (1,50 mm) e número de galhos (3,3) foi registrado em vasos com solo de reserva florestal misturado com esterco de vaca (s2f2). O efeito da interação do solo e das fontes nutricionais foi significativo para todos os parâmetros de crescimento avaliados (p > 0,01). Os solos florestais naturais tratados com NPK (15:15:15) devem ser empregados na criação de mudas de M. oleifera no estágio do berçário, para desempenho ideal.

Palavras-chave
Moringa; Crescimento; Fontes nutricionais; Solo.

DOI
10.21438/rbgas.061322

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