"Brain Storming Session on Moringa

Varieties :PKM 1, PKM 2 are time Tested Popular Varieties

PKM 1 PKM 2

Soil :Annual moringa comes up well in a wide range of soil. A deep sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.5 – 8
is ideal for cultivating this crop. But there should not be any water stagnation at the earlier Stage.

Season : Planting is done during July – October. If water is available can be planted throughout the Year.

Seed Rate :500 g/ Ac. of seeds are required. Sow two seeds per pit at a depth of 2.5-3.0 cm. The seeds
can also be sown in the poly bags containing pot mixture and transplanted after 35 -40 days of
sowing.We are strongly suggested to plant the Hardened Plants grown in the Packets.

Digging of Pits: Dig pits of size 45 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm with a spacing of 2.0 - 2.5 m either way. Apply
15-25 kg of compost or FYM/pit after mixing with top soil. Before putting the Manure let the pits dry for 10
Days and put 5-10 Gms. Of Furadon Granules after putting the Farm Yard Manure. In the Farm Yard
Manure put ½ Kg Single Super Phosphate or ¼ Kg.DAP 18-35-00 for better decomposing of the FMY and
helping better formation of root Zone.

High density planting of PKM 1 : It is better to go for High density planting at 1.5 X 1.0 m spacing with
two plants and plant population is 13,333 / ha along with the application of fertilizer dose of 2 Bags of
28.28.00 Urea 1 Bag of Murat of Potash is sufficient for 1 Hector. Instead of flow Irrigation Drip Irrigation
increases the yield of moringa. Not only Moringa for any crop Drip Irrigation increases the yield. More
over it will help in reduce growth of weed. In this phosphorus should be applied basally as soil application.
N and K can be applied in the form of urea and muriate of potash through drip. If the water is insufficient
go for Plastic Mulching of Black-Silver of 40-50 Microns.

After cultivation: Gap filling may be done within a month. Pinch off the seedlings when they are about
75 cm in height to facilitate more branching. Short duration vegetables like Cowpea, Bhendi and Tomato
can be grown as intercrop .Up to 8 th Month the Flowers should be picked out to have the better growth
of the Tree. Tree should be pruned at the height of 7-8 Feet.For perennial moringa, medium pruning of
shoots at 70 cm from the tip has to be followed to regulate flowering and obtain the highest yield of 37 kg/
tree.

Manuring : A fertilizer dose of 45:15:30 g of NPK/pit may be applied 3 months after sowing. Apply 45 g
of N/pit after 6 months when the crop is in bearing. This Fertigation be done in every THREE Months
Irrigation
Irrigate before sowing and on the 3rd day after sowing and subsequently at 10 – 15 days interval
according to soil type.

Plant protection
Pests

Moringa pod fly management

Soil application of Thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 200g a.i. / ha on 150, 180 and 210 days after planting;
placement of fermented tomato fruit trap @ 25 / ha; and need based foliar spray of Spinosad 45 SC @
56g a.i. / ha followed by Profenophos 50 EC@ 250g a.i. / ha.

Bud worm, leaf caterpillar and leaf webber: Dust Carbaryl 10 D @ 25 kg/ha or spray Carbaryl 50 WP
@ 2 g/l.

Hairy caterpillar
Use flame torch when the caterpillars settle on the tree trunk.

Ratoon crop
Cut back the trees at 90 cm from ground level after the harvest is over. In another 4 – 5 months, plants
will again come for harvest. Ratoon crops can be taken for 3 years. Apply the fertilizer dose of 45:15:30 g
NPK/plant, within a week after cutting back along with 25 kg of FYM or compost every year.

Yield
50 - 55 tonnes of pods/ha (220 pods/tree/year).

Market Information

Dindigul, Thoothukudi, Theni, Karur, Tiruppur

Crop growing districts
Major markets in Tamil Nadu
Preferred Varieties and hybrids
Dindigul,
Periyar Vegetable Market Koyambedu, Chennai
Gandhi Market, Oddanchathiram
Natchipalayam vegetable market, Coimbatore
PKM 1 & PKM 2