Effect of Plant Spacing on Growth and Leaf Biomass production of Moringastenopetala bac in Arba Minch Zuriya woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Moringa stenopetala is indigenous multipurpose tree to Southern Ethiopia grown as a backyard crop and park land agroforestry for various uses. To meet the growing demands of the tree leaf biomass as a vegetable, growers need to increase their production by adopting improved management techniques. This study was initiated to determine the optimum spacing required for improved growth and higher biomass production. Six planting spacing treatments (0.5 m*0.5 m, 1 m*1 m, 1 m*1.5 m, 2 m*2 m, 2 m*2.5 m and 3 m*3 m) were used in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data was collected on survival, root collar diameter, plant height, and branch number, and crown width, diameter at breast height and leaf biomass. All studied parameters showed significant differences (P<0.05) among treatments. Narrower spacing revealed significantly lower survival and higher plant height. The wider spacing produced significantly higher (P<0.05) root collar diameter, crown width, diameter at breast height and branch number per plant than plants of the closer spacing. Similarly, highest fresh leaf yield was recorded in wider spacing per plant. Besides the estimation of fresh leaf biomass collection per tree, the estimation was also done at hectare level. Accordingly the highest and lowest fresh leaf biomass was recorded on 2 m × 2 m spacing (3110 kg ha-1) and 3 m × 3 m spacing (1800 kg ha-1) respectively. Thus, 2 m × 2 m was proved to be optimum with desired number of stems per hectare to product the highest leaf and branch biomass.

Author(s): Desta Hamore1*, Getahun Yakob2, Tizazu Bashura1, Asfaw Debella3 and Agena Anjulo4

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