The possibility and prosperity of Moringa oleifera Lam. cultivation in Armenia under conditions of outdoor hydroponics and soil

Abstract

Moringa is one of the most important plants in the fight against malnutrition. Its leaves are largely used in food. This subtropical plant is a non-traditional culture for Armenia. For the first time it was cultivated in outdoor hydroponic and soil conditions in Ararat Valley. The aim of the study was to reveal the plant’s cultivation possibility in the outdoor hydroponic conditions and the quantitative and qualitative efficiency of its plant raw material. The results are showing that hydroponic moringa exceeded soil variant 1.7 times in useful biomass of leaves in a count of per plant. Due to high productivity, the hydroponic moringa plants exceeded soil plants with the output of the extractive substances (1.5 times), flavonoids (1.4 times), phenolic acids (1.9 times), tannins (1.2 times), calcium (1.2 times), magnesium (2.9 times), proteins (1.5 times), and carbohydrates (1.3 times). The received results allowed assuming that the hydroponic culture is effective and perspective for moringa cultivation in Armenia.