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Effects of Moringa on Growth Yield Snap Beans

Effects of Moringa on Growth Yield Snap Beans.Effects of Moringa on Growth Yield Snap Beans.

Extracts from fresh Moringa leaves could  be used to produce an effective plant growth enhancer, increasing yield.

ABSTRACT:
Two  field  experiments  were  carried  out  to  evaluate  the  effects  of  Moringa  leaf  extract  on  the growth,  yield and yield components  of snap bean. The results  showed  that Moringa  leaf extract applied at 11, 20, 33 and 50% concentration to snap bean plants at 10 days after emergence significantly (P = 0.05) increased vegetative growth, leaf chlorophyll content, plant dry matter (shoot and root), yield components  and fresh pod yield. The snap bean response  to increasing  Moringa extract  concentration  was  quadratic  with  respect  to  plant  height,  leaf  area,  leaf  number,  leaf chlorophyll   content,   shoot   dry  matter   and  root  dry  matter.   However,   Moringa   leaf  extract significantly (P = 0.05) reduced shoot and root water contents. Due to the Moringa extracts-induced increase in vegetative growth, leaf chlorophyll content, yield components and yield of snap beans, it was concluded that Moringa leaf extract could be used to enhance the growth and development  of snap beans.

Since  animal  protein  is  more  expensive than plant protein, legumes are important in less developed countries for the supply of relatively inexpensive proteins for rural and urban populations. However, grain yield of commercial crops of common beans is less than 1.0 tons/ha in most developing countries. In order to meet the rising food demand, emphasis has to be put on improving yields per hectare. This can be achieved  through  plant  breeding, biotechnology and application of plant growth regulators to positively modify plant growth to economic advantage.

Extracts  from fresh Moringa  leaves could  be used to produce an  effective  plant  growth  enhancer,  increasing yield  by  25-30%  for  nearly  any  crop  [5].  The active growth  enhancing  substances  in Moringa leaf  extract  are  reported  to  be  zeatin, dihydrozeatin and isopentyladenine which are natural  (endogenous)  cytokinins  [5,6].  The moringa  leaf is also composed  of proteins, minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates and phenolics. Continue reading