Moringa (Moringa Oleifera Lam.) Leaves Effect on Soil Ph and Garden Egg (Solanum Aethiopicum L.) Yield in Two Nigeria Agro-Ecologies (Published)
Soil acidity is a major constraint in soil fertility maintenance, particularly, in the humid tropics. Sustainable production of crops on acidic soils depends on soil amendment to remediate acidity and fertility status. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of incorporating Moringa leaves on soil acidity amelioration and garden egg yield. The field trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farms of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and the Faculty of Agriculture, Cross River University of Technology, Obubra in 2009 and 2010. Treatments consisted of two varieties of garden egg (Gilo and Kumba) and four rates of Moringa leaves. Fresh Moringa leaves were applied at the rates of 0, 5, 10 and 20 t ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results obtained showed that all rates of the manure reduced the soil pH within 30 days after incorporation in both years and locations. At 60 days after application, and up to 140 days after incorporation, all manure rates increased the pH in both locations and years. The control, however, showed a steady pH decrease up to 140 days after incorporation. All manural rates significantly (P<0.05) increased the yield of the garden egg varieties over the control. Moringa at 20 t ha-1 produced the highest fruit yield in both years and locations. The crop yields were significantly higher in Makurdi than Obubra in both years and the yield for 2010 was significantly higher than for 2009 in both locations. Moringa leaves, at the rate of 20 t ha-1, are a promising soil amendment for the remediation of soil acidity and this rate is recommended for the sustainable production of garden egg
Keywords: Garden Egg, Humid Tropics, Moringa, Soil Acidity Remediation, Soil Ph, Sustainable Production