EFFECT OF MORINGA EXTRACT ON GROWTH AND
YIELD OF MAIZE AND COMMON BEANS

EFFECT OF MORINGA EXTRACT ON GROWTH AND
YIELD OF MAIZE AND COMMON BEANS

CULVER MVUMI

FANUEL TAGWIRA

ALBERT ZVENHAMO CHITEKA

An evaluation on the potential benefit of using Moringa oleifera leaf extract as a
growth hormone on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and maize (Zea mays)
was done. Trials were carried out in the greenhouse and field. In the greenhouse,
five treatments were used: control (M0, only water applied), second control (ME,
only ethanol applied), moringa extract (in 80% ethanol) applied (on leaves) once at
2 weeks from emergence (M1), moringa extract applied at 2 and 4 weeks from
emergence (M2), and moringa extract applied every 2 weeks to maturity from two
weeks from germination (M3). The same treatments were adopted in the field
except ME, which was considered unnecessary after observing the results of the
greenhouse experiment. Results showed that moringa extract increased growth
and yield of beans in both greenhouse and field, and of maize in the field. However,
the extract showed no significant effect on DM yield, root DM or plant height of
maize in the greenhouse. The highest DM and root weight, height and crop yields
in greenhouse and field experiments for beans, and for maize in the field only, were
obtained at M3. The study recommends the application of extract at M3

Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences

2013