Articles
Effect of harvesting age on nutrient composition of Moringa oleifera seedlings
Article number
1460_42
Pages
355 – 362
Language
English
Abstract
Moringa oleifera Lam., commonly known as moringa, is a highly valued multipurpose plant due to its exceptional nutritional content and fast growth habit.
The great potential benefits mean that there is a need to critically assess harvesting practices for biomass production of moringa to optimise nutrient composition.
The objective of this study was to determine the impact of various harvesting ages on nutrient content of moringa leaves.
The study was conducted under tunnel conditions at Welgevallen Experimental Farm, Stellenbosch University (South Africa). Five plants were harvested at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after transplanting to establish the appropriate harvesting period.
Leaf nutrient content was measured after each harvest.
Multivariate ANOVA, used to compare differences in nutrient concentration by harvesting age and nutrient type (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P and Zn), indicated that harvesting age significantly influenced nutrient concentration and yield of moringa leaves.
At 30 days, Ca, Mg, and Zn were significantly higher, whereas Na and Fe were high at 90 days harvest.
Only P was high at 120 days when compared with other harvesting days.
Moreover, there was an increase in total nutrient yield for all mineral nutrient elements as the days of harvest were increased.
Though the concentration of most nutrients was higher at between 30 and 90 days, the total nutrient yield was low and vice versa at 120 days.
As such, for optimal concentration of most mineral nutrients studied, moringa should be harvested between 30 and 90 days, however, for optimal nutrient yield we suggest that harvesting should be carried out at 120 days after transplanting.
Our study further showed that the significant contribution to the recommended dietary allowance for most mineral nutrients could be made by consumption of moringa leaves at all harvesting ages.
The great potential benefits mean that there is a need to critically assess harvesting practices for biomass production of moringa to optimise nutrient composition.
The objective of this study was to determine the impact of various harvesting ages on nutrient content of moringa leaves.
The study was conducted under tunnel conditions at Welgevallen Experimental Farm, Stellenbosch University (South Africa). Five plants were harvested at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after transplanting to establish the appropriate harvesting period.
Leaf nutrient content was measured after each harvest.
Multivariate ANOVA, used to compare differences in nutrient concentration by harvesting age and nutrient type (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P and Zn), indicated that harvesting age significantly influenced nutrient concentration and yield of moringa leaves.
At 30 days, Ca, Mg, and Zn were significantly higher, whereas Na and Fe were high at 90 days harvest.
Only P was high at 120 days when compared with other harvesting days.
Moreover, there was an increase in total nutrient yield for all mineral nutrient elements as the days of harvest were increased.
Though the concentration of most nutrients was higher at between 30 and 90 days, the total nutrient yield was low and vice versa at 120 days.
As such, for optimal concentration of most mineral nutrients studied, moringa should be harvested between 30 and 90 days, however, for optimal nutrient yield we suggest that harvesting should be carried out at 120 days after transplanting.
Our study further showed that the significant contribution to the recommended dietary allowance for most mineral nutrients could be made by consumption of moringa leaves at all harvesting ages.
Authors
C.V. Mashamaite, P.J. Pieterse, P.N. Mothapo, B.L. Ngcobo, E.E. Phiri
Keywords
leaf nutrient composition, nutrient yield optimisation, mineral content variability, functional food potential, sustainable leafy vegetable production
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