Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

11(3):70-73
Published September, 2015 Sa’id et al., 2015

INFLUENCE OF NURSERY MEDIA AND AGE OF CUTTING ON THE

PERFORMANCE OF MORINGA (Moringa oleifera (L.) IN SAMARU,
ZARIA
Sa’id, A., Lere, G. A., Yahqub, M., Abdullahi, H. and Hamma, I. L.
ABSTRACT
Samaru College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University,Zaria Email: [email protected] 08135571447, 08054535659

A field trial was conducted during the 2014/2015 dry season at the Horticultural unit of Samaru College of Agriculture,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in the northern guinea savannah ecology to determine the ‘‘Effects of media (Sand alone,
sand + top soil (2:1), sand + sawdust (2:1), sand + cow dung (2:1), sand + poultry manure (2:1) and age of cuttings (soft
wood, semi-hardwood and hard wood) on the performance of moringa (Moringa oleifera L.) at Samaru, Zaria’’. The 5 x 3
factorial experiments were laid out in a randomized complete design (RCD) with fifteen treatments replicated three times to
give a total of 45 observations. The crop established well in the field, all cultural practices were executed as at when due.
Data collected on growth parameters include plant height, number of leaves plant, number of branches plant and leaf area
plant, stem girth and total dry matter plant. All data collected was analyzed statistically analysis of variance and significantly
different means separated using least significant difference (LSD) at 5% level of probability. The effects of media and age of
cuttings were significant on growth characters such as cuttings length, number of leaves plant-1, leaf area plant-1 , stem girth
and total dry matter plant-1. Sand + top soil and (2: 1) sand + saw dust (2: 1) performed very well by enhancing sprouting of
cuttings faster than the other treatments. Age of cuttings did not significantly differ, but semi hard wood produced higher
means of treatments than the rest of the cutting types.

Keywords: Moringa, media, age of cuttings, growth and yield.

INTRODUCTION
Nursery is a place where young plants are raised under intensive management for transplanting to the field. All
tree crops are commonly established with seedlings grown in the nursery. This practice ensures economy of
planting materials and permits intensive management that reduces infestation of pathogen and attacks of insect
pests on seedlings (Essien et al., 2010; Essien et al., 2014). According to them, nursery practice allows the farmer
to raise and select vigorous seedlings for establishment. However, the quality of seedlings raised is significantly
influenced by growth medium because, plant roots are limited by the size and content (moisture, nutrient and air)
of the nursery container. Essien et al. (2014) equally reported that the quality of container-grown ornamental
plants is in broad terms, dependent on the physical and chemical composition of the medium, the growing
environment and plant management such as watering, pest and disease control measures. Good cultural practices
in a nursery also improve seedling growth and development. Most of the plants require specialized nursery
techniques that ensure the production of quality seedlings that can be transplanted at the proper time, which may
ensure high percentage survival in the field. The nursery media must be considered if good quality and profitable
seedlings are to be produced as to fully and effectively obtain the potentialities of Moringa oleifera (Essien et al.,
2010; Essien et al., 2014).
Environmental conditions can influence the ability of stem cuttings to root. The most common external factors are
light, season, temperature, humidity, moisture of the cuttings and rooting medium and many internal factors have
been shown to influence root initiation and shoot development in stem cuttings (Essien et al., 2010; Mohammed
et al., 2011). Such factors are auxins, rooting co-factor, carbohydrate and nitrogen level in the rooting stock and
also the age of the plant from which cuttings are taken and the position of the cutting within the plant (Essien et
al., 2010). Studies have shown that two factors are generally responsible for sprouting and they include the age of
the plant from which cuttings are taken and the position of the cutting within the plant (Agbo and Obi, 2007). The
problem of great concern regarding moringa plant is the rate of loss of viability period and short supply of seeds.
Essien et al. (2010) reported that moringa seeds have no dormancy period, so they can be planted as soon as they
are mature and they will retain the ability to germinate for up to one year. Thus, there is the need to undertake a
systematic study on the vegetative propagation of moringa through stem cuttings as rooting is a crucial step in the
propagation of woody plants and variability in the rooting ability of different species. Against this background,
this study was designed to investigate the performance of moringa as affected by media and age of cuttings. Most
farmers grow Moringa without knowing the suitable medium for its propagation in order to obtain optimum yield.
This has prompted us to conduct this research so that at the end of the trial, we will come out with some
suggestions on the suitable medium and physiological age of cuttings of Moringa for optimal yield. The
objectives of this trial were to: evaluate the effect of media and age of cuttings on the performance of moringa.

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 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 11(3):70-73
Published September, 2015 Sa’id et al., 2015

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Site description
The experiment was conducted at the green house of Horticultural section of Samaru College of Agriculture,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria located in the northern guinea savanna zone, situated on Latitude 11° 11'N and
Longitude 07° 38'E at an altitude of 686m above sea level, during the 2014/2015 dry season. The area has a
tropical wet and dry climate with mean annual temperature and rainfall of 29°C and 900mm-1000mm,
respectively.
Media preparation
Sand alone, sand + top soil (2:1), sand + sawdust (2:1), sand + cow dung (2:1), sand + poultry manure (2:1) and
cuttings of soft wood, semi-hardwood and hard wood were used. Media were bagged in 40 x 60 cm black
polythene bags. Each polythene bag was mulched, watered and weeded as at when due.
Experimental design
The polythene bags were arranged in a randomized complete design (RCD) as fifteen (15) treatments replicated
three (3) times to give a total of 45. The poly bags were kept in the green house throughout the period of the
experiment.
Sowing and crop management
Moringa (Moringa oleifera) stem cuttings of 20 cm long were planted in each polythene bag using slanting
position allowing the bark of each cutting to have contact with the soil in order to enhance sprouting.
Soil analysis
In both seasons, soil samples (0-0.15 m depth) were collected, air-dried and prepared for chemical analysis using
standard procedures. The quality parameters of the total nitrogen (N), exchangeable potassium (K), pH and
organic carbon were determined. The soil pH was determined using 1:2.5 soil: water ratio and the available P
were determined by Olsen method as described by (Okhalebo et al., 2002). The total nitrogen was determined by
kjeldahl oxidation method and total organic carbon by wet combustion oxidation method. Exchangeable bases
were determined by extraction of the soil samples with excess 1 M NH 4OAc solution (Okhalebo et al., 2002).
Data collection
Data was collected on cutting length (cm), number of leaves plant-1, leaf area (cm2) plant-1 and stem girth (cm)
plant-1 and total dry matter (gm) plant-1.
Statistical analysis
All data collected was analyzed statistically as described by (Rangaswamy, 2010) analysis of variance procedure
of statistical analysis system (SAS) software version 8. Significantly different treatment means were separated
using the least significant difference (LSD) at 5% level of probability (Rangaswamy, 2010).

RESULTS
Physical and chemical properties of the soil used for the trial
Table 1 shows the physical and chemical properties of the soil used for the preparation of media during the
2014/2015 dry season. The soil contains a higher proportion of sand, low silt, low clay, and low organic carbon.
The chemical analysis also shows that the total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, calcium,
sodium, magnesium and cation exchange capacity were low.
Cutting length (cm)
Table 2 shows that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) between the means due to media. Sand + poultry
manure significantly (P>0.05) produced the lowest (13.44), while sand + top soil significantly produced the
highest cutting (18.59), followed by sand + saw dust, sand alone and lastly sand + cow dung on cutting length.
However, the age of cuttings did not significant affect the performance of the cutting and there was no interaction
between media and age of cuttings.
Number of leaves per plant
Table 2 shows a no significant difference (P>0.05) among the means due to media and age of cuttings on number
of leaves plant-1. No significant interaction between media and age of cuttings observed.
Leaf area (cm2) per plant
Table 2 shows indicated that the effect of the media resulted to significant differences (P<0.05) on leaf area plant-
1
. Sand + top soil significantly (P>0.05) produced the highest mean value (35.91), followed by sand + saw dust
(34.78), followed by sand + poultry (34.70), sand + cow dung (33.92) while sand alone significantly produced the
lowest mean (32.11). However, there was no significant difference among the means due to age of cuttings.
Stem girth (cm) per plant
Table 2 shows revealed that there was no significant difference among the means due to media and age of cuttings
on stem girth plant-1.

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 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 11(3):70-73
Published September, 2015 Sa’id et al., 2015
Total dry matter per plant
Table 2 shows a no significant difference among the means due to media and age of cuttings on total dry matter
plant-1 and interaction between media and age of cuttings.

Table 1: Physical and chemical properties of soil used for the experiment in 2014/2015 dry season
Mechanical composition 2014 2015
Sand (%) 86.88 86.78
Silt (%) 7.42 7.32
Clay (%) 11.24 11.14
Organic carbon (%) 5.44 5.34
pH in H 20 6.52 6.42
Total nitrogen (%) 3.56 3.46
Available phosphorus (mg kg-1) 2.24 2.14
Exchangeable potassium (cmol kg -1) 1.58 1.48
Exchangeable calcium (cmol kg -1) 0.58 0.48
Exchangeable sodium (cmol kg -1) 0.53 0.43
Exchangeable magnesium (cmol kg -1) 1.35 1.25
Cation exchange capacity (CEC) (cmol kg -1) 5.23 5.13

Table 2: Effects of media and age of cuttings on the performance of moringa in 2014/2015 dry season combined

Treatments Cutting Number of Leaf area Stem Total dry

length (cm) leaves (cm2) girth (cm) matter (g)
(Media)
Sand alone 16.23 09.15 32.11 1.02 0.66
Sand + Top soil (2:1) 18.59 11.34 35.91 1.02 1.21
Sand + sawdust (2:1) 18.56 12.27 34.78 1.01 1.65
Sand + cow dung (2:1) 15.99 10.68 33.92 1.03 1.20
Sand + poultry manure (2:1) 13.44 13.49 34.70 1.00 1.23
LSD 2.00 NS 5.55 NS NS
(Age of cuttings)
Soft wood 16.14 10.23 33.18 1.00 0.73
Semi-hard wood 17.26 13.24 35.67 1.02 1.24
Hard wood 14.38 12.69 35.80 1.02 1.68
LSD NS NS NS NS NS
Interaction (media x age of cuttings) NS NS NS NS NS

DISCUSSION
Media and age of cuttings play significant roles in seedling emergence or sprouting because seeds or cuttings have
characteristic requirements for moisture and oxygen to germinate. A media needs to be non-toxic, free of moulds,
with adequate aeration and moisture for germinating seedlings (Dawid et al., 2014; Essien et al., 2014). Sand +
top soil gave the highest sprouting, while minimum sprouting was observed from sand alone. The higher
germination in sand + top soil may be due to the fact that this medium was non-toxic and had adequate aeration
and moisture for sprouting of cuttings (Dawid et al., 2014). In a similar investigation, germination of Jatropha was
found best in farmyard followed by sand, sand + soil and sand + soil + farmyard manure (Baiyeri and Mbah,
2006; Geply et al., 2011). Farmyard manure was the richest in NPK. In order to maximize survival and growth, it
was essential to raise seedlings in nurseries with proper care. Watering, weeding around the out planted seedling
and the protection against big herbivores enhanced seedling growth (Bali et al., 2013). In the nursery, polythene
bags are used in areas with high water tables, while flat beds are used in intermediate areas (Bali et al. 2013). The
texture or particle size distribution of nursery soils and that of potting medium for containerized planting stock is
an important soil physical property influencing root and shoot growth (Dickson et al., 2011). Dickens et al. (2011)
has suggested sand + top soil a suitable medium for seed germination and sprouting in Irvingia wombolu.
In Irvingia wombolu (L) the maximum sprouting was observed in the sand + top soil medium, as compared to
other soil media (Fatemeh et al. (2012) recorded significant differences in cutting sprouting in Arizona cypress as
recorded in humus medium. Sand as a germination substratum is preferred for tree species having large seeds
(Ugese, 2010) because aeration in sand medium is best. However, Seedlings grown in containers have many
advantages such as better survival rate, easier to plant, immediate growth response benefits, cheaper to produce
and plant than bare-root seedlings (Mohammed et al., 2011; Poly-Mbah and Agbakaya, 2010). The possible cause
of differential growth performance could be due to differences in the organic components in different media.
Peter-Onoh et al. (2014) found that sand and compost combination (20 % sand + 80 % compost) gave best result
in Monodora mystica. Peter-Onoh et al. (2014) also suggested that soil, sand and compost in the ratio of 1:1:2 is

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Published September, 2015 Sa’id et al., 2015
the best for growth and survival of seedlings in the nursery. In this study, the overall survival and growth
performance was higher in sand + top soil, sand + saw dust, sand + cow dung and lastly sand + poultry manure to
sandy soil alone. Large container seedlings tend to maintain their size advantage over time as compared to smaller
container seedlings, while the absolute growth of large stock may be one year ahead of smaller stock (Papillo,
2007; Bali et al., 2013). Based on our findings the following combinations are proposed for optimum germination
and growth in nursery for moringa; sand + top soil, sand + saw dust, sand + cow dung, sand + poultry manure
and sand alone have been recommended in that order.

CONCLUSION
From the results, it was observed that sand + top soil and sand + saw dust performed very well by enhancing
higher sprouting of cuttings, higher survival, higher vigour and faster growth than the other treatments. Although
age of cuttings did not differ significantly, semi hard wood produced higher treatment means than the other
treatments.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Farmers who grow moringa are advised to prepare media using sand + top soil, sand + saw dust and semi-hard
wood cuttings for a better performance of moringa in Nigeria.

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