Abstract

MEDINA, María Gabriela; GARCIA, Danny Eugenio; CLAVERO, Tyrone  and  IGLESIAS, Jose Manuel. Comparative study of  Moringa oleifera and Leucaena leucocephala during the germination and initial stage of growth. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2007, vol.25, n.2, pp.83-93. ISSN 0798-7269.

An experiment was carried out in "Rafael Rangel" Agricultural Production and Experimental Station, Trujillo state, Venezuela, in order to evaluate the germination, height, steam diameter, number, longitude and diameter of branch, quantity of leaves/branch, rate of growth; survival percentage, and plagues and diseases incidence of Moringa oleifera and Leucaena leucocephala. A totally randomized design with 20 replications/species was used. During the experimental period germination and survival of 100% in M. oleifera were showed; while inferior percentages (95 and 95%, respectively) in L. leucocephala were observed. At the end of evaluation, statistical differences were observed for M. oleifera in the stem and branch diameter, longitude of branch and quantity of leaves/branch. Nevertheless, the height, the quantity of branches, and the growth rate did not show substantial differences. M. oleifera was immune to plagues and diseases attack, and L. leucocephala was considered resistant. In general, M. oleifera exhibited better behavior than L. leucocephala in most of the measured indicators, and both species showed a satisfactory growth in the nursery phase. M. oleifera and L. leucocephala could be transplanted from the seventh and tenth week, respectively.

Keywords : Moringa oleifera; Leucaena leucocephala; propagation; nursery condition; initial performance; growth.