Moringa - Moringa oleifera

Description and Uses

Moringa oleifera (Moringa) is a tropical tree from North West India. It is mainly grown for its multipurpose crops (medium shelflife), but also bio-mass, conservation, edible flowers, edible leave shoot, endo-mycorrhiza, fodder, fruit, fuel, medicinal, mulch, nut, oil, plant-hormones, and vegetable can be produced. The crop is harvested by pruning. It starts flowering after 0 - 2 years. The first yield will be 0.5 kg/tree but in its top season there will be a yield of 1 kg/tree. The "flower", "fresh leaf", "powdered leaf", and "young pods" are edible. Medical uses include; "anti-cancer", and "high vitamin-C content". The powdered leaf contains proteins (25% - 28%). There is ben-oil extracted by expeller pressing from the tree`s seed/nut yielding 35 - 40% oil. The tree`s wood is called moringa wood and has a density of 500 - 700 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is very fast, its energetic value is 4850 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is slow; it might be grown for firewood, see firewood rating in the rating bar. After 8 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Moringa oleifera has a lifespan of 20 years.

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Environmental limitations

The tree is 12 meters tall. It is very fast growing and tolerates not less light than full sun. Moringa oleifera has a deep root-system and forms symbiotic relations with "Glomus intraradices", and "Glomus mosseae" fungi (endo-mycorrhiza high). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is bi-sexual and is pollinated by bees. Moringa oleifera is deciduous in winter and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Moringa oleifera thrives in an altitude of 0 to 1000 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is -1°C and optimally between 13 - 40°C. The optimal rainfall is 1000 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 250 - 1500 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 9.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is a bit tolerant to wind tolerant and to fire a bit tolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

Eupterote mollifera is a pest and "Blue stain fungi", and "Twig cancer", are diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are orthodox and can be stored for 1 months. There are approximative 3500 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Store harvested seeds dry at room temperature, (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing., (3) press the seeds twice its size in the soil soil.

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