Abstract

ALVARADO RAMIREZ, Edwin R. et al. Morphological variation in Moringa oleifera Lam. at different population densities. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2020, vol.11, n.spe24, pp.165-176.  Epub May 07, 2021. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v0i24.2367.

The tree species are used to improve the nutrition of ruminants and Moringa oleifera, can be a feeding alternative, for forage of high nutritional value. However, topological arrangements modify the structure of the plant and consequently the nutritional value. Therefore, the effect of different population densities (D50, D100 and D200 for 50, 100 and 200 thousand plants ha-1, respectively) and 5 cuts every 28 days on the morphological characteristics of Moringa oleifera was evaluated, under a design of complete random blocks with arrangement in divided plots and three repetitions, in storm conditions and during the period from July to November 2017. The variables evaluated were height regrowth (HR), basal plant diameter (BPD), number of branches (NBP), relative content of chlorophyll (RCC), leaf area index (LAI) and specific leaf area (SLA). The results indicated that there was no interaction (p> 0.05) between population densities and cuts. It was observed that the HR, BPD and NBP values decreased (p> 0.05) with increasing plant density; the opposite case happened with LAI and SLA. The RCC was similar (p> 0.05) in all the evaluated densities. In conclusion, increasing the moringa population density from D50 to D200 negatively affected the aerial morphological components of the plants, mainly the stem, which influenced the number and size of branches.

Keywords : agronomic management; forage trees; population densities.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English | Spanish     · English ( pdf ) | Spanish ( pdf )