Media Effects on Emergence and Growth of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam) Seedlings in the Nursery

Abstract

This study was carried out in the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to determine the effects of different sowing media on emergence and growth of moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam) seedlings in the nursery. The moringa seeds used for the study were collected from different parts of Nigeria; Nsukka (Eastern Nigeria), Ibadan (Western Nigeria) and Jos (Northern Nigeria). The sowing media were weathered sawdust (100%), top soil (100%), weathered sawdust plus cured poultry manure in the ratio of 2:1(volume by volume; v/v), and top soil plus cured poultry manure plus river sand in the ratio of 3:2:1(v/v/v). Perforated black polythene bags were used as potting media. The experiment was a 3 x 4 factorial trial in completely randomized design with three replications. The seeds sown in the 100% topsoil took average of 8.2