EFFECT OF PLANTING DISTANCE AND MINERAL FERTILIZATION ON GROWTH, YIELD AND ACTIVEINGREDIENTS OF MORINGA PLANT

Abstract

A field study was carried out during 2013 and 2014 seasons on two cultivars of Moringa plants to evaluate the effect of planting distance and mineral fertilization on growth , yield and active ingredients constituents . The experiment carried out in a private farm at Wadi El- Natron region, Behira Governorate , under drip irrigation system was used , total salinity of irrigation water was 400 ppm . The seeds of Moringa oleifera or Moringa stenopetala were directly sown at each plant distance at the first week of March for 2013 and 2014 seasons . All horticulture practices except NPK fertilization were followed . Split plot experiment design in 4 replicates was used , where planting distance (20X 60cm, 40X60 cm2 and 60X60cm2) irranged in main plot and NPK fertilization (N100 P100 K50 , N200 P200 K100 and N300 P300 K150) in sub main plot .Thus 9 treatments X 4 replicates X 10 plant for each replicate = 360 plants for each Moringa cultivars were used for each season . Regarding plants distance , 20X60 cm estimated 35000 plants / fed , 40X 60 cm2 estimated 17500 plants/fed and 60X60cm2 estimated 11660 plants / fed . However, NPK fertilization adopted by using ammonium nitrate 33.5% as N source , monoammonium phosphate MAP (N12P61K0) as P source and solo – potash (50%) as K source . NPK fertilizers amounts according to the three levels above mentioned were applied as soil application in equal doses in May , July , September and October for both season. Five cutting intervals at first July, August, September, October and November for both studied seasons were harvested by picked the top four leaves of plants with left apical leaf The obtained data can be summarized as follows:

1. Moringa olifera plants 1.1. Effect of planting distance and mineral fertilization on Vegetative growth parameters 1.1. 1. Plant height (cm) 1. High planting distance 60X60cm and medium 40X60cm were produced highest plant height during all cuts . Significant differences between high planting distance and other distances were clear during all cuts 2. High NPK levels significantly increased plant height than other two levels 3. The highest values of plants height were obtained as an interaction between high planting distance 60X60cm and high NPK fertilization levels 300-300-150 . On contrary , the lowest values were found from acting between low planting distances 20X60cm and low NPK fertilization levels 100 – 100 -50 . 1.1.2. Number of lateral branches / plant 1. Low planting distances 20X60cm produced highest values of branches per plant during all cuts. However , no significant differences were noticed between low distances 20X60cm and medium 40X60cm in affecting the number of branches per plant 2. A great effect to NPK fertilization levels on number of lateral branches per plants especially with high levels (300- 300- 150) . 3. The highest number of branches per plants was obtained with low distances 20X60cm and low NPK level (100:100:50) . On contrary , the lowest value of branches per plant was recorded by high distance 60X60cm and high NPK level (300- 300 -150) 1.1.3 . Number of leaves per plant 1. Generally, it could be noticed that highest number of leaves per plants of Moringa oleifera was recorded by low planting distance 20X60cm during all cuts. 2. High NPK fertilization level 300 -300-150 has a great effect on increasing the number of leaves per plant 3. The highest interaction umber of leaves per plant was obtained with low planting distance 20X60cm and high NPK fertilization level 300-300-150. On contrary, the least number of leaves per plant was recorded by high planting distances 60X60cm and medium fertilization level of NPK . 1.1.4. Stem diameter (mm) 1. Stem diameter was increased with increasing planting distance and with advanced in plant age . Highest values of stem diameter of Moringa oleifera was obtained with high planting distance 60X60cm with significant differences than the other two planting distance in most cases 2. High NPK fertilization level (300-300-150) produced plants with high stem diameter than medium or low levels. 3. The highest stem diameter was obtained by those plants planted at high distance and fertilized with high NPK level . On contrary the least values of stem diameter was obtained by low planting distance and low NPK fertilization level 1.1.5. Fresh weight (g/plant) 1. High planting distance 60X60cm was superior in increasing fresh weight per plant in first and second cuts whereas , medium planting distance 40X60cm was superior in third , fourth and fifth cuts 2. High level of NPK 300-300-150 produced highest values of total fresh weight (g/plant) during all cuts . 3. No in affecting fresh weight of Moringa oleifera significant differences were detected between the three levels of NPK where these differences noticed only in second and third cuts., 4. Low distance 20X60cm and high NPK level 300-300-150 recorded the highest values of fresh weight However , the least values of fresh weight was obtained with high planting distance 60X60cm and medium level of NPK fertilization (200-200-100). 1.1.6. Dry weight (g/plant) 1. High planting distance 60X60cm was superior in increasing dry weight per plant in first and second cuts whereas , medium planting distance 40X60cm was superior in third , fourth and fifth cuts. 2. No significant effect to NPK mineral fertilization on dry weight per plant was recorded during all cuts. 3. The high interaction value of dry weight per plant was obtained with low planting distance (20X60cm) and high NPK levels of fertilization . On contrary, the least values of dry weight was obtained with high planting distance and low NPK fertilization level .