Crecimiento y producción de biomasa de moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) bajo las condiciones climáticas del Noreste de México

Growth and biomass production of moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) under the climatic conditions of Northeastern México

Abstract

Cultivation of Moringa oleifera Lam. is a viable alternative for biomass production by having a fast vegetative growth; however, both crop growth and biomass production may vary according to the climatic and edaphic conditions in which the crop develops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and biomass production in two levels of fertilization (0 and 400 kg of N ha^-1 year^-1), two varieties of M. oleifera (short pod 24 cm and long pod 45 cm), two planting densities (11 and 33 plants m^-2) and two plant height at cut (145.7 and 178.4 cm), during the years 2013 and 2014, under drip irrigation conditions. The experiment was realized in open sky conditions in Nuevo Leon state, Mexico (25º 47’ 07.54’’ North latitude, 100º 17’ 03.93’’ West longitude, and altitude of 479 mamsl), using an experimental randomized block design with four repetitions, with a factorial arrangement Taguchi of 2⁴. The Plant height was positively associated to biomass production. The planting density registered negative relationship to growth, but in biomass production showed positive and negative relationships, depending of growth period. The varieties and fertilization did not show significant differences in growth or biomass production. It is concluded that plant height at cutting and planting density, affect the growth and biomass production of M. oleifera.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54167/tch.v10i3.177