moringa cultivation

Introduction
• Moringa represents an available source of essential nutrients and
proteins during the all year.
• It’s a strong immune booster.
• It is a mean to cure and prevent malnutrition in infants, pregnant and
lactating women
• Moringa produces more leaves during the rainy season which correspond
to the hunger period
• Moringa is easy to grow, process and add into the meal (tea, relish, soup,
…)
• Moringa dried powder can be sold in local markets (Mitundu, Lilongwe,
…)

Different moringa sp:
11 Moringa species from parts Africa, Arabia , 2 from India,
Bottle Moringa Tree Species
1. Moringa Drouhardii-seeds 4-7 years before they seed Likes
dryer climate
2. Moringa Hildebrandtii Origin Madagascar.Likes dryer climates
3. Moringa longituba
4. Moringa stenopetala :Mature trees grow 20 to40 feet Origin
Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Likes dryer climates
5. Moringa Ovalifolia

slender Moringa Tree family
1.Moringa Concanensis
2.Moringa Oleifrea -From India Nutritional and Medicinal
properties
3. Moringa peregrina

short tree shrub, bush, herb family
1. Moringa pygmaea
2. Moringa borziana
3. Moringa Arborea
4. Moringa Ruspoliana
5. Moringa Rivae

Seed Rate :
500 g/ha of seeds are required. Sow two seeds per pit at a depth of
2.5-3.0 cm. The seeds can also be sown in the poly bags containing pot
mixture and transplanted after 35 -40 days of sowing.
Soil requirement:
Annual moringa comes up well in a wide range of soil. A deep sandy
loam soil with a pH of 6.5 – 8 is ideal for cultivating this crop.
Varieties PKM 1, PKM 2 and KKM 1

Climatic requirements
• It grows best in direct sunlight under 500 meters altitude.
• It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, but prefers a neutral to
slightly acidic (pH. 6.3-7.0), well-drained sandy or loamy soil.
• Rainfall: 250mm -3,000mm
• Temperature ranges are 25-350 c
• The tree will tolerate up to 48 degrees in the shade and it can survive
a light frost.

Planting Methods
• Direct sowing
• Sowing and transplanting of young seedlings
• Stem cuttings

Sowing and transplanting of young seedlings

Preparatory cultivation:
• Dig pits of size 45 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm with a spacing of 2.0 - 2.5 m
either way. Apply 15 kg of compost or FYM/pit after mixing with top
soil.
High density planting and fertigation in moringa :
PKM 1:High density planting at 1.5 X 1.0 m spacing with two plants/hill
and plant population 13,333 / ha along with the application of fertilizer dose
of 135: 23 :45 g of NPK/pit (150%) through drip increases the yield of
moringa. In this phosphorus should be applied basally as soil application. N
and K can be applied in the form of urea and muriate of potash through drip.
PKM-2, the closest spacing of 1.2 x 1.2 m is ideal to obtain the highest
yield of 138 t/ha. The pinching of main shoots on 80th day after sowing will
also help register the highest yield of fruits.

Fertilizer and manuring:
Moringa trees will generally grow well without adding very much fertilizer.
fertilizer dose of 45:15:30 kg of NPK/pit
Watering
Moringa trees do not need much watering. In very dry conditions, water
regularly for the first two months and afterwards only when the tree is obviously
suffering. Rainfall Is sufficient for all growth stage
Pinching the Terminal Tips:
When the seedlings reach a height of 60cm in the main field, pinch (trim) the
terminal growing tip 10cm from the top.
After cultivation:
Gap filling may be done within a month. Pinch off the seedlings when they
are about 75 cm in height to facilitate more branching.

Pest and disease
• Moringa is resistant to most pests. In very water-logged conditions,
Diplodia root rot can occur.
• Moringa pod fly management:Soil application of Thiamethoxam 25 WG
@ 200g a.i. / ha on 150, 180 and 210 days after planting; placement of
fermented tomato fruit trap @ 25 / ha; need based foliar spray of
Spinosad 45 SC @ 56g a.i. / ha followed by Profenophos 50 EC@ 250g
a.i./ ha.
• Bud worm, leaf caterpillar and leaf webber: Dust Carbaryl 10 D @ 25
kg/ha or spray Carbaryl 50 WP @ 2 g/l.
• Hairy caterpillar :Use flame torch when the caterpillars settle on the tree
trunk
• The budworm Noordia moringae and the scale insects Diaspidotus sp.
and Ceroplastodes cajani are reportedly able to cause serious damage

Maturity indices:
To determine the changes in physical and chemical
properties with maturity of moringa to identify the correct stage
of maturity for harvesting. It was found that toughening of
moringa pods were caused by formation of lignin. The only
practical means of controlling lignifications is by prevention.
Therefore, harvesting of pods before lignifications is the best
stage of maturity. should be harvested when the pods are at
maximum length, before seeds prominent form out dark green
and flexible. It takes 38 days form flowering to come to best
stage of maturity

Harvesting
•
When harvesting pods for human consumption, harvest when the pods
are still young (about 1cm in diameter) and snap easily. Older pods
develop a tough exterior, but the white seeds
and flesh remain edible until the ripening process begins. When
producing seed for planting or for oil extraction, allow the pods to dry and
turn brown on the tree
Ratoon crop
Cut back the trees at 90 cm from ground level after the harvest is over. In
another 4 – 5 months, plants will again come for harvest. Ratoon crops can be taken for
3 years. Apply the fertilizer dose of 45:15:30 g NPK/plant, within a week after cutting
back along with 25 kg of FYM or compost every year.

Yield:50 - 55 tonnes of pods/ha (220 pods/tree/year)

Health benefits :
• Protects Skin and Nourishes Hair
• Provides Antioxidants and AntiInflammatory Effects
• Promotes Heart Health
• Stabilizes Mood and Enhances Neurotransmitter Function
• Stabilizes Blood Sugar Levels
• Treats Stomach Disorders
• Protects the Liver
• Enhances Eyesight
• Boosts Immunity
• Prevents Stone Formation
• Helps Prevent Cancer
• Serves as an Antibacterial Agent
• Treats Anemia
• Treats Asthma
• Helps To Balance Hormones and Slows the Aging Process

moringa cultivation

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