Evaluation of Two Moringa Species for Adaptability and Growth Performance under Bako Conditions

Abstract

A Moringa species adaptability experiment was conducted at Bako Agricultural Research Center, Western Oromia for three consecutive years (2010/11-2013/14). The objective of the study was to assess the growth performance and adaptation of moringa species to the area depending on their early growth patterns and survival. This is a sort of matching the moringa species with the Bako environment. In this experiment, two different Moring species (Moringa oleifera and Moringa stenopetala) were included, and compared by using randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that there was a significant difference in height growth (p£0.01) and non significant difference in root collar diameter (p≥0.05), diameter at breast height (dbh) (p≥0.05) and survival (p≥0.05) between the two moringa species at this particular area. But  results showed that there was highly significant difference root collar diameter (p£0.01) measured  at one month and significant difference diameter at breast height (dbh) (p£0.05) at one year age of establishment performance of the species. This could be due to the environmental factors and inherent genetic potentials of the species which generally govern tree growth. The height growth of Moringa oleifera (4.01 m) outsmarted than Moringa stenopetala (2.40 m). There was significant difference between Moringa stenopetala (0.84 cm) and Moringa oleifera (0.66 cm) regarding root collar diameter development at the first assessment (after one month age), but both of species was  not significant difference at increased the age of species. Of both species Moringa stenopetala and Moringa oleifera showed good survival rates with mean values of 97.33 and 100% respectively. Based on the results of three years growth data, the performance of these  Moring oleifera species is promising and hence they can be considered for further technology specific and on-farm agroforestry works around Bako.

Keywords: diameter at breast height, genetic potentials, Moringa oleifera, Moringa stenopetala, and root collar diameter.