Agroproductive behavior of Moringa oleifera Lam was evaluated in edafo climatic conditions in Camagüey, Cuba, in a year-old hedge on typical gray-brown soil. This species contributes with 6.2 kg/year of green matter (MV) and 2.52 kg/year of dry matter (MS), with annual trimming, and 41.09 % of MS; 105 fruits per plant with 19.4 average of seeds per fruit, and approximately 2 037 seeds per plant. Wood production accounts for 0.029 m3 /plant and 19.34 m3 /km of hedges. M. oleiferaLam produces significant volumes of forrage and firewood, which valorize hedges in agriforestry systems

Loyola Hernández, Oscar

Pérez Cabrera, Isael

Triana González, Delmy

Valido Tomés, Arelys

Yeró Pino, Idania

English

Portal de Revistas - Universidad de Camagüey

Rev. prod. anim., 26 (2): 2014 I S S N  2 2 2 4 - 7 9 2 0  Agroproductive Evaluation of Moringa oleifera Lam in Hedges, under Edafo-climatic Conditions Oscar Loyola Hernández*, Isael Pérez Cabrera**, Delmy Triana González*, Arelys Valido Tomés* and Idania Yeró Pino* * Department of Agronomy, University of Camagüey, Cuba ** Agroforestry Experimental Station, Camagüey, Cuba oscar.loyola@reduc.edu.cu ABSTRACT Agroproductive behavior of Moringa oleifera Lam was evaluated in edafo climatic conditions in Camagüey, Cuba, in a year-old hedge on typical gray-brown soil. This species contributes with 6.2 kg/year of green matter (MV) and 2.52 kg/year of dry matter (MS), with annual trimming, and 41.09 % of MS; 105 fruits per plant with 19.4 average of seeds per fruit, and approximately 2 037 seeds per plant. Wood production accounts for 0.029 m3/plant and 19.34 m3/km of hedges. M. oleifera Lam produces significant volumes of forrage and firewood, which valorize hedges in agriforestry systems. Key Words: Moringa oleifera Lam, hedges, foliage, firewood, fruits  INTRODUCTION Current deterioration of most cattle ecosystems demand serious transformation of exploitation systems, which should be based on agroecological principles, where cattle systems are considered ecosystems, not just technical and economic man-agement (Del Pozo, 2002). The sustainability of these systems internationally does not mean yield increases, but system optimization as a whole (Funes, 2000). Present-day knowledge has been oriented to de-signing agroforestry and grazing alternatives, which allow for more intense tree and cattle sys-tems interaction (Ruiz et al., 2000; Simón and Francisco, 2000; Iglesias, 2003; Mejías, 2008). Their main purpose is to develop technological al-ternatives for soil-tree-animal integration, directed to improve nutritional and productive levels in an-imals; rational use of resources and evaluation of economic, social and environmental impacts of the alternatives suggested. Special importance is now given to hedges, since they contribute with a wide variety of prod-ucts, including stakes for new hedges, animal for-rage, firewood, fruit, and bee honey (apiculture), thus turning these systems into an indicator for system sustainability (Hernández, Pérez y Sán-chez, 2001; Monzote y Funes-Monzote, 2003). Within agroforestry techniques Moringa oleife-ra Lam. used for hedges certainly plays a signifi-cant role, due to low settling costs and high re-turns, compared to other types of hedges (Suárez, Simón y Yepes, 1996), apart from increasing availability of firewood, stakes for hedges and forrage (Price, 2000). However, knowledge on intensive production of the species in the area is still insufficient, espe-cially in terms of benefits. Hence, this study in-tends to assess the agroproductive behavior of Moringa oleifera Lam. in hedges, under edafo-climatic conditions at the Fortified Cooperative of Credits and Services (CCSF) Renato Guitart in Camagüey, Cuba. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was developed for a year (March 2012-March 2013), at the CCSF Renato Guitart in the municipality of Camagüey, Cuba, located at 21º34’63” North latitude and 77º89’79” West longitude, 98.7 m above sea level. The experimental work was performed on typi-cal saturated, half deep, slightly humid, little eroded gray-brown soil, with clay loam texture and effective depth of 40 cm (Hernández et al., 1999). The climatic conditions of the area correspond to inner plain, tropical, humid, with seasonal hu-midification and high evaporation (Rivero, 2010); air temperature is high, with minimum values of 18.1-22.9 oC, and maximum of 28.2-33.8 oC. Rainfall in the period reaches the 1 235.5 mm, with a variation between March 2012 and March 2013 of 6.4 and 302.6 mm in the dry season (PPLL) and rainy season (PLL), respectively. Agroproductive Evaluation of Moringa oleifera Lam in Hedges, under Edafo-climatic Conditions Rev. prod. anim., 26 (2): 2014 Animal foliage production Following a randomized experimental design, sampling of 60 one-year-old trees of Moringa oleifera Lam. var. Plenium (introduced several years ago in Cuba), planted for hedges in March 2012 as plantlets, was carried out. The distance between trees is 1.5 m, with a height of 5.6 m at the time of intervention. Foliage samples were taken a year after plantation (March 2013), that included removal of all leaves and petioles. The leaves were separated from the petioles and were separately weighed, and then the fresh weight was claculated in percents of the leave/petiole fraction. Yields were calculated us-ing the MS data. Fruit and seed production All fruits and seeds per fruit from the trees were counted. Firewood production In order to determine this parameter, 10 samples from 0.20 m long branch samples with a diameter of 0.38 and 0.044 m and known weight (0.25 kg), were used. Volume was determined through the Huber formula: V= (∏/4) x d2 x L The results were extrapolated to the total weight of branches without leaves from each tree (cubing weight or ponderal index). Wood density (kg/m3) for carbon sequestration studies was determined with the same parameter. Statistical analysis Descriptive statistics (mean and ES) were de-termined for foliage yields, fruit, seed and fire-wood production. Analyses were performed with SPSS for Windows, version 15.0.1 (2006). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Foliage production Table 1 shows the productive results for M. oleifera Lam., regarding the amount of green ma-terial produced; as well as its production per hedge km, considering a single annual trimming, since this one is the first trimming done to the trees ever. The species, under edafo-climatic con-ditions contributes with 6.2 kg/a/trim of MV and 2.52 kg MS/a/trim provided that 41 % of MS as-sumed for this study, according to the results achieved by Reyes (2006), Palmero (2012) and Loyola et al. (2013). If these results are extrapo-lated to kilometers of total hedges, that could mean values of 1.68 t MS/km of hedge/trim, which may be three or four times higher, well over 5.0 t MS/km/year. The results achieved in the study are superior to Gálvez (1998), Pedraza and Gálvez (2000) in Gli-ricidia sepium (Jacq.), Kunth ex Walp., (flowered pinnon) for Camagüey, who indicated the possi-bility that a G. sepium tree can produce 2.5 kg/MVa/trim and 10 kg/year of MV, in four trimming passes every 90 days each. However, eadible biomass is reported for G. sepium, which may contribute with 4.4 MS/year. It is also impor-tant to say that these results have only included one yearly trimiming, in comparison with the above mentioned study, due to their incidence on the carbohydrate reserves present, stage of fol-liage maturity, and so on. These results are also higher than results by Palmero (2012) and Loyola et al. (2013) for eda-fo-climatic conditions in the municipality of Santa Cruz, Camagüey province, with over 15-year old trees, planted as stakes. In the above mentioned study, the authors achieved 4.88 kg/a/trim of MV; 1.97 kg of MS/a/trim and 1.31 t of MS/km/trim; all values are 25 % higher for every variable, which may be related to age in this particular case (one year old and possibly biologically stronger). Moreover, these trees grew from seed-produced plantlets, and have deeper and more vigorous roots that help the plant absorb the necessary nu-trients from the deep. If this analysis were made by hectares (t MS/ha) assuming the same plantation framework of 1.5 x 1.5 m; considering 4 444 plants/ha, productions of 27.5 t MV/ha may be achieved from a single trimming, equal to 11.19 t MS/ha from a single trimming. These values may be close to those re-fered to by Gómez (1994), cited by Loyola et al. (2013), for G. sepium, who reported annual green forrage productions of 55.5 and 80.6 t/ha, for a single trimming, between 12.5 and 20 t MS/ha. Pedraza et al. (2005) suggested that 1 km of G. sepium hedges, 1.5 m between trees may contri-bute with nutrients (on a costly effective basis) around the year, so that 20 cows in 240 lactation days, consuming average amounts of pasture, and supplemented with minerals could produce around 1 kg/day more of milk, provided water and pasture availability were not a limiting factor. Folliage from hedges may bring about benefits to the ecosystem and farm´s ecology. O. Loyola, I. Pérez, Delmy Triana, Arelys Valido and Idania Yeró Rev. prod. anim., 26 (2): 2014 Trimming at the end of the rainy period may stop flowering, favor vegetation and produce quite a remarkable amount of edible biomass (Hernández, Benavides and Mochiutti, 1994). Russo and Botero (1996) have said that folliage from various species of trees and shrubs can im-prove the quality of diets traditionally used for an-imal nutrition in developing countries. In coun-tries like India and Nepal, the efficacy of that alternative has been very positively aknowledged. Fruit and seed production The evaluation of the species reproductive va-riables showed that in the March-April period the plant reproduces in the area, reaching up to 105 fruits per plant; as well as intense flowering. Fitomed Technical Commission (2010) reports that their fruits are in the form of pods, up to 40 cm long and 1 or 2 cm wide, with winged seeds. The results achieved by this commission showed that a dry fruit weighs 17 g, from which seeds make up for 41 %. The amount of seeds per fruit determined in this research ranged between 15-25 seeds, for an aver-age of 19.4. These results corroborate other re-sults by FAO-OMS (2005) that report 12-25 seeds per pod. These organizations have stated that each tree may produce from 15 000-25 000 seeds per year. In this particular case, during the first evalu-ation in March, the plants studied accounted, on average, 2 037 seeds per year, which is a signifi-cant value, considering they come from very young plants, only one year old.  Seed mean weight  is 0.36 ± 0.001 g/seed; hence, according to the results achieved in this re-search, 1 kg of seeds contain approximately 2 777,7 seeds/kg . Firewood production Table 2 shows estimated firewood production, which may be supplied by M. oleifera Lam. in this productive system. From the pattern sample, wood density was initially determined, which will be later used for carbon retention determination. In that case, the density achieved is 961.5 kg/m3, higher than the values reported by Palmero (2012), who had 862 kg/m3, close to reports by Fors (1965), cited by Loyola et al. (2013), who had density values of 1 120 kg/m3 for the same species. These values are way higher thn the val-ues reported by Hu (1987) and López et al. (1987), cited by Fernández (2006), for Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit (Leucaena) and Gua-zuma ulmifolia Lam., whose reports showed den-sities of 530-570 kg/m3 for the species. Separate tree analysis showed significant values in firewood/tree, roughly 28.23 kg/plant, equal to 0.029 m3/plant, and 19.34 m3/km of hedge, an im-portant value to consider as additional by-product of the technology, which valorized hedges to a greater extent, especially in this species. These values are lower to the ones reported by Palmero (2012) under other edafo-climatic conditions in Camagüey. Taking into account the results from this re-search, there is coincidence with Villanueva et al. (2005), who highlights M. oleifera Lam. signific-ance as a source of wood products (wood, stakes, charcoal and firewood), which may be consumed on the farm or sold in the market, or both. Foidl et al. (2001) also consider that wood from Moringa has an excellent pulp, as well as poplar (Populus sp.), wich might be used by the Cuban forestry industry as another choice to diversify their prod-ucts. CONCLUSIONS M. oleifera Lam. produces significant levels of forrage, firewood, fruits and seeds, which valorize hedge use in cattle systems in the region. REFERENCES COMISIÓN TÉCNICA DE FITOMED. (2010). Paraíso francés. Extraído en febrero de 2013, desde http://www.sld.cu/fitomed/paraiso_frances.html. DEL POZO, P. (2002). Bases ecofisiológicas del manejo de los pastos. 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(2013). Producción de follaje y composición bromatológica de cercas vivas sobre sabanas ul-tramáficas de Camagüey. V Conferencia Interna-cional Ciencia y Tecnología por un Desarrollo Sos-tenible, Camagüey, Cuba. MEJÍAS, L. (2008). Moringa oleifera in the United States Virgin Islands. 1st World Congress of Agro-forestry, Orlando, Florida, EE.UU. MONZOTE, M. y FUNES-MONZOTE, F. (2003). Metodo-logía y experiencias metodológicas para evaluar la conversión de la producción bovina hacia una ga-nadería integrada agroecológica. Curso Internacio-nal IIPF, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. PALMERO, G. (2012). Evaluación agroproductiva de Moringa oleifera Lam en cercas vivas en condicio-nes edafoclimáticas del municipio Santa Cruz del Sur. Tesis de grado, Universidad de Camagüey, Cuba. PEDRAZA, R. et al. (2005). Potencial de las cercas vi-vas de Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp. como fuente de forraje para la producción de le-che. I Congreso Internacional de Producción Ani-mal, III Foro Latinoamericano de Pastos y Forra-jes, Palacio de las Convenciones, La Habana, Cuba. PEDRAZA, R. M. y GÁLVEZ, M. (2000). Nota sobre el rendimiento, por ciento de hojas y grosor del tallo del follaje de postes vivos de Gliricidia sepium po-dados cada 90 días. Revista Cubana de Ciencia Agrícola, 34 (1), 4. PRICE, M. L. (2000). The Moringa tree. Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO). Ex-traído el 25 de mayo de 2013, desde http://www.echotech.org/technical/technotes/moringabiomasa.pdf. REYES, N. (2006). Moringa oleifera and Cratylia ar-gentea: potential fodder species for ruminants in Nicaragua. Doctoral dissertation, Faculty of Vete-rinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Animal Nutrition and Management Uppsala, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Upp-sala, Estados Unidos. RIVERO, R. (2010). Consideraciones sobre los cambios climáticos en Camagüey y su efecto en la ganader-ía. Camagüey, Cuba: Centro Meteorológico de Camagüey. RUIZ, T. E. et al. (2000). Sistemas silvopastoriles. Aná-lisis conceptual de las investigaciones. IV Taller Internacional Silvopastoril Los árboles y arbustos en la ganadería tropical. EEPF Indio Hatuey, Ma-tanzas, Cuba. RUSSO, R. O. y BOTERO, R. (1996). El sistema silvo-pastoril Laurel-Braquiaria como una opción para recuperar pastizales degradados en el trópico húmedo de Costa Rica. Congreso Agropecuario y Forestal de la Región Hetar Atlántica. SIMÓN, L. y FRANCISCO, A. G. (2000). Potencialidades productivas del silvopastoreo. IV Taller Interna-cional Silvopastoril Los árboles y arbustos en la ganadería tropical. EEPF Indio Hatuey, Matanzas, Cuba. SPSS. (2006). SPSS 15.0 para Windows. Versión 15.0.1. SUÁREZ, J.; SIMÓN, L. y YÉPEZ, I. (1996). Uso de árboles y arbustos forrajeros en cercas vivas de La Habana y Matanzas. Taller Internacional Los arbo-les en los Sistemas de Producción Ganadera. EEPF Indio Hatuey, Matanzas, Cuba. VILLANUEVA, C.; MUHAMMAD, I.; CASASOLA, F. y ARGUEDAS, R. (2005). Las cercas vivas en las fin-cas ganaderas. Serie cuaderno de campo. Proyecto enfoques silvopastoriles integrados para el manejo de ecosistemas. Costa Rica: INPASA. Oxford Fo-restry Institute.  Received: 3-06-2014 Accepted: 11-06-2014  Table 1. M. oleifera L. foliage yields in hedges (Mean+ ES) Species MV/treel (kg/a/trim) MS/tree (kg MS/a/trim) t MS/km/trim M. oleifera L.  6.2 ± 0.003  2.52 ± 0.003 1.68 ± 0.001    Table 2. Estimated firewood production of M. oleifera Lam (Mean+ES) Species No. of trees/km hedge Density(kg/m3) Weight firewood/tree (kg/plant) Firewood volume (m3/plant) M. oleifera L.  667  961.5 ± 0.003 28.23 ± 0.004 0.029 ± 0.003  

Agroproductive Evaluation of Moringa oleifera Lamin Hedges, under Edafo-climatic Conditions.

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Agroproductive Evaluation of Moringa oleifera Lamin Hedges, under Edafo-climatic Conditions.

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