|
|
Biomass production and nutritional potencial of Moringa stenopetala and Moringa oleifera species on plantations in southern Ethiopia
Ungrová, Moana
In May 2017 a plantation of Moringa stenopetala and Moringa oleifera species was established in southern Ethiopia within the project of „The Implementation of Holistic Landscape Management and "Climate Smart Agriculture" in the Kurpayo river basin, Arba Minch Zuria Woreda, SNNPR, Ethiopia” patronised by Mendel University in Brno. Moringa oleifera is native to the foothills of the Himalayas in north-western India, whilst Moringa stenopetala is native just to southern Ethiopia. These two well-known Moringa genus species are gaining the attention of scientists and the public namely thanks to their exceptionally high nutritional content and the beneficial effect on health. In order to assess the suitability of cultivation on the plantation, the average leaf biomass production and, secondarily, the evaluation of the nutritional potential of both species, two harvests which took place in November 2017 and in March 2018 were carried out. The leaf biomass was harvested from thirty trees in total. Based on the evaluated data, M. oleifera is considered to be more suitable for (growing on) plantations in the conditions of southern Ethiopia, due to pest resistance and high leaf biomass production. The stock of leaf biomass of moringa trees in the open countryside in Kurpayo river basin (114,2 km2) has not been accurately quantified, but it is estimated at 630 419,773 kg of dry matter.
|
guest ::
