Soil –
Come up well in a wide range of soils. A deep sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.5 – 8 is
ideal.
Climate-
It puts fourtle luxurtant growth at 25-30°C.
July – October.
500 g/ha
Sow one seed per pit at a depth of 2.5-3.0 cm. The seeds can also be sown in polybags containing pot mixture and transplanted after 35 -40 days of sowing.
Dig pits of size 45 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm with a spacing of 2.5 m either way. Apply 15 kg of compost or FYM/pit after mixing with top soil
High density planting at 1.5 X 1.0 m spacing with two plants/hill and plant population of 13,333 / ha along with the application of fertilizer dose of 135: 23 :45 g of NPK/pit (150%) through drip increases the yield of moringa. 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.
For PKM-2, the closest spacing of 1.2 x 1.2 m is ideal to obtain the highest yield of 138 t/ha. The pinching of main shoots on 80th day after sowing will also help register the highest yield of fruits.
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.
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.
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.
Irrigate before sowing, on 3rd day after sowing and subsequently at 10 to 15 days interval according to soil type.
Pests
Moringa pod fly
Soil application of thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 200g a.i. / ha on 150, 180 and 210 days after planting
Setting up of fermented tomato fruit trap @ 25 / ha
Spray Spinosad 45 SC 2.5ml/10lit.
Bud worm, leaf caterpillar and leaf webber :
Spray Bacillus thuringiensis @ 2 ml/lit.
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. Two ratoon crops can be taken. 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 time.
Harvesting starts 4th month after transplanting.
Yield: 50 – 55 tonnes of pods/ha (220 pods/tree/year)
Crop growing districts Dindigul, Thoothukudi, Theni, Karur, Tiruppur
Major markets in Tamil Nadu Dindigul, Periyar Vegetable Market, Koyambedu, Chennai Gandhi Market,
Oddanchathiram, Natchipalayam vegetable market, Coimbatore
Preferred Varieties and hybrids PKM 1, PKM 2