DEVELOPMENT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM. SEEDLINGS IN DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam., known as Moringa, is an arboreal plant belonging to the Moringaceae family, native to India, and has a high capacity to adapt to climatic conditions and arid soils. In this study we evaluated the initial development of seedlings of Moringa oleifera Lam. under different substrates conditions. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, consisting of eight treatments resulting from combinations of the base substrate (85% soil, 3% carbonized rice straw and 12% coconut fiber).  At 60 days after sowing, plant height, stem diameter, dry mass of the aerial part and root system, total dry mass were evaluated, in addition to the Dickson quality index (IQD). The best seedling growth occurred using the combination of 20% poultry litter and 10% bovine manure.  Seedlings produced with substrates formulated with 20% poultry litter and 10% bovine manure showed gains in the evaluated variables, which could be a viable alternative for the production of moringa seedlings.