Effect of Pollarding on Growth and Leaf Biomass Production of MoringaoliferiaLamin Arba MinchZuriyaWoreda, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is native to northern India and planted in many parts of the world. In Ethiopia, little is known about the management and silvicultural practices of the plant. The present study was conducted to determine whether different cutting/pollarding heights affect the yield and growth of Moringa oleifera at Arba Minch Zuriya Woreda, Southern Ethiopia from November 2016 and September 2019. Two months old hardened twenty-five seedlings of the tree were planted at 5m x 5m plot at a spacing of 1mx1m. Four pollarding treatments/cutting heights (0.5m, 1.0m, 1.5m and 2.0m) and one control (un-pollarded) were imposed after 12 months of planting using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected from 6 inner row individual Moringa trees from each plot. Data on the fresh and dry weight of leaf biomass per tree was taken at the age of 15, 18, 22, 26, 29 months after planting. Fresh wood biomass and the number of shoots rejuvenated after pollarding were also recorded. ANOVA was employed to analyze the collected data. Cutting height affected shoot number and height significantly (P < 0.05). A maximum number of shoots per plant was recorded on un-pollarded treatment (control). Cutting height affected fresh and dry biomass of leaf significantly (P< 0.05). Maximum fresh leaf biomass (823g/tree) was recorded at a lower pollarding height (0.5 meters) followed by 1.5 meters (729g/tree). The lowest fresh leaf biomass was recorded on un-pollarded treatment (268g/tree). Maximum and minimum dry leaf biomass was also obtained at 0.5-meter cutting height (222g/tree) and control (73g/tree) respectively indicating pollarding importance to the tree planted for foliar biomass production. Future research is recommended focusing on long-term growth and management trial of the species.

Keywords: Cutting height, Fresh Leaf Biomass, Moringa oleifera

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-18-01

Publication date:September 30^th 2021