Effect of different manures on establishment and growth of Moringa oleifera seedlings in Owerri, South East Nigeria

Abstract

The recent increase in awareness of the various nutritional and medicinal benefits of Moringa oleifera plant has given rise to a high demand for the plant and its products.Moringa trees have been reported to perform well in backyard gardens and around homesteads due to soils rich in organic matter, but poorly in forest plantations.The use of inorganic fertilizers are expensive and unsustainable among smallholder farmers in this region hence the use of farm yard manure offers a viable alternative.In this experiment, two hundred and forty Moringa oleifera seedlings were planted in plots measuring 9m x 9m separated by 2m paths in a randomized complete block design with three replications.Four different farm yard manure types collected from pigs, poultry, cattle, sheep and goats, were applied as treatments to the seedlings two weeks after transplanting with a control where no manure was applied.The plant height and girth were measured over a seven week period.The results indicate significant differences in height and girths of the plant (P<0.05) with pig manure recording the highest mean height of 89cm followed by sheep and goat and poultry manure which recorded 71 and 72cm respectively.The pig manure also recorded the highest increase in plant girth with a value of 1.11cm followed by poultry manure with 0.89 cm.It can be concluded that Moringa farmers desirous of establishing forest plantations of the crop would require significant amounts of pig and poultry manures to guarantee quick establishment and ultimately high yield and productivity.