CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Moringa oleifera is fast growing, drought-resistant tree of the family Moringaceae,
native to tropical and subtropical region of South Asia. Common names include
Moringa, drum stick tree (from the long, slender, triangular seed-pods), horseradish
tree (from the taste of the roots, which resembles horseradish), and oil tree or olive
tree. (GRIN, ARS, USDA2017). Its widely cultivated for its young seed pods and
leaves used as vegetables and for traditional herbal medicine. It is also used for water
purification. M. oleifera is considered to be an aggressive invasive species. (CABI
September2018).
M. oleifera is a deciduous tree that can reach a height of 10-12m(32-40ft) and trunk
diameter of 45cm (1.5ft). The bark has a whitish grey color and is surrounded by
thick cork. Young shoots have purplish or greenish white, hairy bark. The tree has an
open crown of dropping, fragile branches and the leaves build up a feathery foliage of
trip innate leaves. (William et al., 2012).
According to fugile, (1999) Moringa plant can be source of high quality food for
both human and animals. It is one of the world`s most nutrients crops such as forage
medicine, and water purification. The leaves of Moringa have more beta carotene
than orange, more iron than spinach. It is leaves are readily eaten by animals (cattle,
sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits), it`s also use for feeding fish in aquaculture, crushed leaves
are used in some part of the world to scrub cooking utensil or to clean walls (William
et al,2012).
Germination of moringa oliefera is hypogeal meaning that the cotyledon remains
beneath the soil face surface. Suggests that the use garden/top soil subtract lead to a
germination percentage above 70% after three weeks. Germination occur within 5-30
days depending on the age of the seed, soil or media type and pretreatment method
used which may include, cracking the shape`s, socking seeds with shells, devilling
seeds, and socking seeds for 24 hours the putting in a plastic bags and storing in a
warm place. Socking improve seed performance and provide faster and synchronized
germination (Padilla C, Fraga, N and Suarez, M 2012).
Several part of the plant are also used in native medicine and folk remedies for the
treatment of ear, eye and bronchial complaints, skin infection, fever, stomach ulcer,
diarrhea, syphilis and nervous disorder. For example the flowers are used to cure
inflammatory, the pods are used for joint pain, the root are used to treat rheumatism,
and the bark can be chewed as a digestive. It has also been widely describes as
having antibiotics property and being a cancer preventative(Fahey, 2005. The plant
seeds are used as a sexual virility drug for treatment eractile dysfunction in men and
also in women for prolonging sexual activity (Lea, 2010).
The leaves also provide excellent material for the production of the biogas,the juice
extracted from the leave can be used to make foliar nutrients capable of increasing
crops yield by up to 30% (Williams et al., 2012). The seed oil which is known as
“Ben oil” is used as lubricant for industrial machinery in some European countries.
Moringa oleifera also provide nectar to honey bees for a long period of years (HDRA,
2012).
It is particularly describes because it is a very low water use crop and may be
cultivated on land in semi-arid areas, and poor soil and in saline areas (Brockman,
2007, SWCC 2007).
1.2 Statement of the problems
Often during germination and growth of moringa seeds, seedlings show symptoms of
stunted growth and yellowing of leaves, resulting in death or reduced growth. This
has been attributed to low initial soil nutrients and water logging in some cases.
Salinity is a major environmental stress that affect the growth of productivity of plant
especially moringa seeds, due to the salinity and acidity of soil it kills the
microorganisms which help in mixing the soil and transporting nutrients to the root of
the plant to make use of it, also saturated and drought is also a problems that inhibit
the germination of moringa oleifera.
1.3 Aims and Objectives of the study
The main aim of this study is to assess the germination and early seedlings growth of
moringa oleifera as influence using potting media.
i. To determine the germination rate.
ii. To determine growth parameters of the study species.
iii. To identify the best potting media addopted in the study species.
1.3 Justification
The finding of the study will be significant to agricultural scientist teachers,
agricultural science, student extension worker further researchers on moringa farmers.
The finding will update the body of knowledge lent read on the subject matter with
new fact. Agricultural scientist`s teachers will benefit immensely from the finding of
the [Link] scientist`s teachers will therefore find the result of the study
useful as added amd current information are acquired and this will help to enrich their
knowledge in lesson divers. Similarly, they can quote the finding of the study to
support similar finding in other research endeavour.
Agricultural science students will benefit from the finding of the study as current and
valuable contribution on their knowledge. This is especially such as subject matter of
the study related to the curriculum content of agricultural science causes, particularly
plant science and agronomy.
1.4 Scope and limitation
The scope of the study is to assess the germination and early growth moringa oleifera
as influence by potting media in the nursery of Aliko Dangote university of scince
and technology wudil.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study Area
The research was carried out at site at of the department of Crop science Faculty of
Agric Agricultural technology, Aliko Dangote university of science and technology
wudil.
3.2 Material Use
Hoe, head pan, shovel, vender caliper, ruler, poultry droppings, small ruminant
dung, watering can, hand trowel, polythene pots, river sand, moringa seeds.
3.3 Sample collection
The seeds of moringa oliefera were collected from the mother tree at Audu Bako
collage of Agriculture Danbatta. 180 polythene pot of 2x3ccm dimension were filled
with different mixture.
3.4 Experimental Description
The polythene pots were filled in ratio of 2:1 with river sand and organic manure
(poultry droppings and small ruminant`s dung) with relication of 60 polythene pots
which were arranged.
3.5 Seed Treatment
The seed was poured into cool water for viability or conformation test. The viable
seeds were soaked in for 24hours in a container after which the seeds we`re planted in
the nursery from each polythene pots mixtures.
3.6 Data Collection
The data of the experiment was collected using complete Randomized Design
(CRD) within the three replication. Flipping method were used from each treatment to
select the sample seedlings which was marked and use to determine experimental
parameters i.e height, color, diameter and number of branches respectively.
3.7 Data Analysis
The data generated were analyzed using two factor ANOVA statistical tools with
replication.