Response of Soil Replenishment on Coppicing Ability and Economic Values of Moringa oleifera Lam Seedlings
K. J. Ilu *
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
K. D. Salami
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
A. U. Jibo
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
M. S. Aminu
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
F. J. Moshood
Department of Forest Production and Products, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study aimed at the response of soil replenishment on the coppicing ability of Moringa oleifera plant and economic values of Moringa oleifera seedlings. This study was carried out in the forest nursery of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State. Purposive random sampling technique was used and one hundred and forty (140) structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents and retrieved. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in seven treatments with five replicates and total of thirty-five samples were laid. The data obtained was subjected to descriptive statistics (percentage and frequency) and inferential statistics (Analysis of Variance). Moringa oleifera performed well under all the treatments but it performed exceptionally under the control (T7) with shoot height (17.46±0.70 cm), stem diameter (1.46±0.05 cm), number of leave (120.9±13.35) and number of branches (12.55±0.92). Furthermore, the results showed that food and medicinal use had highest percentage of 32.86% and 20.71% respectively; percentage responses to ailments of leave and stem diameter were 40% and 25% respectively. Therefore, it is concluded that the findings of this research be disseminated to growers as it could improve the vegetative growth of their Moringa crops, medicinal uses, and sustainability.
Keywords: Cattle manure, coppicing ability, Moringa oleifera, NPK 15:15:15 and seedlings