Effect of Spacing and Harvest Frequency on the Growth and Leaf Yield of Moringa by Dr Amaglo Newton

This paper is the result of a series of experiments which were performed to investigate spacing and harvest frequency effects on the growth, leaf yield and quality of Moringa oleifera Lam.  It was performed by Dr Amaglo Newton (AHM Member) and this team at the Department of Horticulture of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

CONCLUSIONS:

“The results of the study showed that spacing had a significant effect on the growth and yield of Moringa. A pronounced effect was observed for leaf production, stem size and overall shoot yield. Thus in the production of Moringa as a source of leafy vegetable would require that among other factors, the spacing for cultivation is given attention. After taking into account a number of factors that affected the overall efficiency including the loss of plants after successive cuttings and the ease of working on fields, the optimum density in sandy, well drained and fertile soils was found to be 1.33 million plants per hectare with spacing of 5 x 15cm. After the initial harvest at 60 Days after sowing, the subsequent harvests should be done at every 35 Days and additional fertilization is essential for continuous good yields and plant survival.”