Resumen de Yield and nutritional value of Moringa oleifera Lam, forage at different population densities
Edwin R. Alvarado Ramírez, Santiago Joaquín Cancino, Benigno Estrada Drouaillet, Elvia M Romero Treviño, Diana I Llanes Gil López, Jonathan Raúl Garay Martínez
Objective: To assess the aerial biomass yield and nutritional value of Moringa oleifera at densities of 50,000 (D1), 100,000 (D2), and 200,000 (D3) plants ha1.
Design/methodology/approach: The experiment was established under a randomized complete block design, with a split-plot arrangement and three replications. From 155 days after sowing, 5 cuts were made every 28 days. The following variables were assessed: total dry matter (TDM) and leaf dry matter (LMD) yield (kg ha1) and crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content (g kg1).
Results: An interaction between densities and cuts was observed. Regarding TDM yield, D1 surpassed D2 and D3, by 71 and 83%, respectively, in cuts 1 and 2; however, D3 showed the highest TDM yield (P0.05) in cuts 3 and 4, surpassing D2 by 47% and D1 and D2 by 46 and 76%, respectively. The highest SDM yield occurred in D1, in cuts 1 and 2 (561 and 852 kg ha1, respectively); while D3 obtained the highest values in cuts 3 and 4 (901 and 1054 kg ha1, respectively). An 11% CP content reduction (P0.05) was observed by the density increased from D1 to D2 (222 vs. 198 g kg1). In regard to NDF and ADF values, no differences (P0.05) were found between the densities assessed.
Limitations/Implications: Planting density in Moringa oleifera determines the forage yield potential and nutritional value.
Findings/Conclusions: Moringa oleifera grown in semi-arid conditions at a density of 50,000 ha1 plants and with 28-day cutting intervals showed the best productive behavior (yield and protein concentration).
