Moringa oleifera – an underutilised tree with amazing versatility Newton K. Amaglo Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwame Nkrumah University.

Moringa oleifera – an underutilised

tree with amazing versatility

Newton K. Amaglo

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture,Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana-West Africa

• Family - Moringaceae • Genus - Moringa • Common names - horseradish tree, drumstick tree, West India Ben • Number of species - 14 • Most important - Moringa oleifera, M. stenopetala • Origin - Sub-Himalayan tracts of the Indian subcontinent • Occurrence, cultivation - all over the tropics • Growth and Size - fast growing perennial tree, grows to 7-12m height


Moringa tree – general information

Multiple uses of Moringa

Human food

Water purification

Pharmaceutical products

Animal and fish feed

Green manure

Plant growth hormone


Moringa parts and their uses


Cooking, cosmetics, and medicinal & Individual uses

Moringa parts and their uses

Oil

Meal

Minus Oil

Seeds Pods RootsLeaves

StemsTwigs

Kernel

Bark

Shells Animal feed

Water purification

-Human consumption-Medicinal uses

FuelMinus coagulants

Animal feed

Extracted meal

Growth factors

Dyes tannins, medicinal uses

Biogas production

Excellent pulp

Wood

Moringa in GhanaCurrently Moringa can be found in every part of the country

In Volta region, it is called Yevu-ti (The white man’s tree). It was introduced by the Germans during the second world war. It is being used mainly as live fence.

In Ashanti region, it is reported that the royal clan brought it on their return from the Sesheles Island*.

it is known by the name “Buid” In the upper west region, It is one of the traditional foods of

the Dagatis where it is known as “Onwukowo” (chew and drink water)


* Mrs Alice Kunadu Acheampong, 2004 Kumasi.

• Trials in Nicaragua haveshown that it is ideally suitedalso for more intensiveproduction

• Traditionally cultivated as a backyard plant• It can also be grown as a hedge


Methods of Moringa culture

Nutrient/Component Yield

(tons/ha/yr)

Concentration

(% DM)

Dry matter 126

Protein 21.4 17.0

Sugar 12.6 10.0

Starch 10.0 7.9

Lipid 4.4 3.5

NDF 30.2 24.0

NSP, Ash, Others 47.4 37.6

Source: N. Foidl, personal communication; NSP-non-starch polysaccharides


Production of nutrients from intensive

M. oleifera cultivation in Nicaragua

Moringa – a highly valued food in the

tropics


Nutritional and energy content of Moringa

leaves from three regions (% in dry matter)

CP-crude protein, CL-crude lipid, NDF-neutral detergent fibre, ADF-acid detergent fibre,ADL-acid detergent lignin, GE-gross energy (MJ/kg)


Y

Mineral Composition of M. oleifera

leaves from different origins


Essential amino acid composition of M.oleifera leaves from different regions (g/16gN)

FAO/WHO (1990) reference pattern suggested for pre-school children (2-5 years old);acystine+ methionine; btyrosine+ phenylalanine

Intensive moringa leaf production Moringa can be grown intensively with yields of up to 650

metric tons of green matter per hectare. This compares very well to other green manure crops such as

Lablab beans, which yield up to 110 tons/hectare of green matter in pure stands.

The green matter is harvested when plants reach a height of 50cm or more (every 35-40 days), cut at a distance of 15-20cm above the ground.

Although losses of seedlings may be 20-30% in the first year, the vigorous regrowth of the remaining seedlings will produce 3 or 5 new shoots after each cutting. Up to nine harvest can be obtained annually.


Young Moringa Shoots

about 3 weeks old

Moringa Shoots Ready for first Harvest

Moringa Shoots Cut at 20cm high

India's ancient tradition of ayurveda says the leaves of the Moringa tree prevent 300 diseases.

Modern science confirms the basic idea.

Scientific research has proven that these humble leaves are in fact a powerhouse of nutritional value.

Gram for gram, Moringa leaves contain:


Moringa- Nutritional Content

More than half of all children’s death in the third world are due tomalnutrition interactive effects on disease*. In Ghana malnutrition isone of the leading causes of death among children < 1 to 14 years ofage**.

Moringa leaves could practically wipe out malnutrition on our planet. Experts agree that the long-term solution to malnutrition is theuse of foods rich in the essential nutrients often lacking inpeople's diets. Modern scientific research is proving thatMoringa leaves are one of the richest sources of such nutrients.Even Small amounts of the leaves could protect thousands ofPeople from suffering and death.People in several countries have found that Moringa leaves arequite acceptable to taste, especially when added to common foods.


Moringa- Nutritional Content- Cont.

* ECHO development nodes 1997

** MOH report of health and disease analysis task team. Feb 2001

M. oleifera leaves have become a

recommended food supplement


Classical supplement for catch-up

growth in malnourished children

Moringa leaf powder supplement

Whole milk powder – 110g

Sugar – 50g

Oil – 30g

Electrolyte/mineral – 20ml

Made up with water to 1000ml

Spoonful thrice daily (total 25g)

along with millet broth

Problem of availability and affordabilityin poor far flung areas

Available and affordable to all,spectacular results, improvement fromday 10

• Leaf powder now recommended in Africa and

Asia as a nutritional supplement for

–Lactating mothers

–Infants and children


Moringa – a nutritious vegetable to a

“functional food”

Photo: Lowell J. Fuglie, Church World Service


Moringa shoots as green manure Using moringa as a green manure can significantly enrich

agricultural land. In this process,

the land is first tilled. Moringa seed is then planted 1-2 cm deep at a spacing of 10x10 cm or less.

After 25 days, the seedlings are plowed into the soil to a depth of 15cm.

The land is then prepared again for the crop desired.


Major secondary compounds in Moringa parts(DM basis)

*inverse of wt. of sample in g per ml of assay solution that caused agglutinationnd: not detectable

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture,Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana-West AfricaE-mail : moringa@ luxmail.com

Level of two bioactive flavonoids inMoringa leaves and extracts


Prof Dr Klaus Becker

Comparative evaluation of antioxidant activityof Moringa leaf extracts and syntheticantioxidants



Yield percent of different solventextracts from Moringa leaves



Content of carotenoids and ascorbic acid inMoringa leaves from different regions (mg / kg DM)




Chemical composition of untreated andtreated kernels and shells of M. oleifera(% in DM)


Content of carotenoids and ascorbic acid inMoringa leaves from different regions (mg / kg DM)



Use of Moringa as animal feed


* From N. Foidl; Nicaragua, dry season

Effect of Moringa forage supplementation on body mass development in cattle*


Moringa seed extract (MSE) influences proteindigestion by rumen microbes


Moringa forage as supplement in fatteningdiets for pigs*

* From N. Foidl; Nicaragua


Growth performance of tilapia fed dietscontaining Moringa leaves


Liver retinol (vitamin A) enrichment intilapia fed Moringa leaves


Moringa as Livestock feed Cont.Care must be taken to avoid excessive protein intake.

Too much protein in pig feed will increase muscle development at expense of fat production.

In cattle feed too much protein can be fatal (from alteration of the nitrogen cycle.)

Nutrient value of Moringa leaves can be increased for swine and poultry through addition of an enzyme (phytase) to break down the phytases, leading to increased absorption of the phosphorus found in Moringa.


With Moringa feed, milk production was 10liters/day.-Without Moringa feed, milk production was 7liters/day.

With Moringa feed, daily weight gain of beef cattle was 1200grams/day.-Without Moringa feed, daily weight gain of cattle was

900 grams/day.

The higher birth weight (3-5kg) can be problematic for small cattle.

It may be advisable to induce birth 10 days prematurely to avoid problems. Incidence of twin births also increased dramatically with Moringa feed: 3 per 20births as opposed to the usual average of 1:1000.

Moringa as Livestock feed Cont.


Moringa leaf extract as plant growth hormone

The juice from fresh moringa leaves can be used to produce an effective plant growth hormone, increasing yields by 25%-30% for nearly any crop: onions, bell pepper, soya, maize sorghum, coffee tea, chili, melon…

One of the active substance is zeatin: a plant hormone from the Cytokinines group

This foliar spray should be used in addition to other fertilizers, watering and sound agricultural practices.


How to make the spray

Make an extract by grinding young moringa shoots (not more than 40 days old) together with a bit of water (about one liter per 10kg fresh material). Filter the Solid out of the solution. The solid matter, which contain 12-14% protein, can be used as livestock feed.

Dilute the extract with water at a 1:32 ratio and spray directly onto plants. Apply about 25ml per plant (Store in a freezer if extract is not going to be used within five(5) hours).


Moringa leaf extract as plant growth hormone Cont.

Crop

Effect of the use of Crop yield with Crop yield

the Moringa hormone without hormone

hormone (kg/manzana) (kg/manzana)

Peanut (floor runner)

Soya bean CEA-CH 86

Corn NB-6

Sorghum H887-V2

Onion (sondeo)

Granex

Tomato (sondeo)

Larger flowers 3,750 2,954

Increased dry matter

Greater yield

Higher quality nuts

Larger flowers 2.182 1,591

Greater biomass

Greater yield

Greater yield 6,045 4,454

Greater yield 3,234 2,787

Increased weight of 2,954 2,591

Average bulb

Increased flowering - -


Crop Effect of the use of Crop yield with Crop yield

the Moringa hormone without hormone

hormone (kg/manzana) (kg/manzana)

Santa Clara

Cantalope

Bell Pepper

Yolo Wonder

Coffee

Sugar Cane

Black Bean Dor-364

Fewer losses of 11592 8820

Flowers after polinisation (melon)** (melon)**

Higher percentage of sugar

and minerals

Increased dry matter 17,380 11,752

Increased fruit weight

Larger grain size 1,682 1,409

Higher quality bean formation (semi-cleaned) (semi-cleaned)

Greater number of shoots 82,400 77,320

Per Planting

Higher percentage of

sugar and minerals

Greater yield 1,125 945

Moringa leaf extract as plant growth hormone Cont.


Immature Pods as Vegetables Immature fruits are eaten as

vegetable and has export market value in European markets

The pods can also be processed into canned vegetables


Moringa seed oil ExtractionSeeds yield 38-40% of a non-drying oil, known as Ben Oil,

used in arts and lubricating watches

and other delicate machinery.

Oil is clear, sweet and odourless and never

becomes rancid. It is useful as cooking oil, bio-fuel for diesel

engines, the manufacture of perfumes

and hairdressings.


Moringa as Livestock feed

Moringa leaves constituting 40-50% of feed, milk yields for dairy cows and daily weight gain for beef cattle increased 30%. Birth weight, averaging 22kg for local Jersey cattle, increased by 3-5kg.

The high protein content of moringa leaves must be balanced with other energy food. Cattle feed consisting of 40-50% moringa leaves should be mixed with sugar cane, young elephant grass, sweet (young) sorghum plants, or whatever else is locally available.

The maximum protein and fiber content of livestock feed should be :Protein FiberLactating cow : 18% 26-30%Beef cow : 12-14% 36%Lactating sow : 16-18% 5-7%Meat pig : 12-14% 5-7%

Using moringa leaves as cattle feed (beef and milk), Swine feed and Poultry feed.


Use of Moringa as water purifiers inrural tropics


Coliform removal by M. oleifera extractscompared to effect of alums on muncipalwastewater


Water treatment

The milled kernelThe milled kernel with oil already extracted

Both are effective in treating water


Water treatment Cont. The active ingredient (a polyelectrolyte) has

been isolated in the laboratory 100kg of moringa kernels will produce about

1kg of (almost pure electrolyte) The seed powder can also be used to harvest

algae from waste water The seed powder has been used in large

scale community water treatment


Water treatment Cont.This is a community water treatment plant in Tanzania where 50% Alum and 50% Moringa seed powder have been used.


Water treatment Cont.


Multiple uses and future perspectives


Moringa oleifera – an underutilised tree with amazing versatility Newton K. Amaglo Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwame Nkrumah University.

Documents

kumasi ghanawest africa

faculty of agriculture

moringa parts

nicaragua slide

important moringa oleifera

upper west region

drumstick tree

underutilised tree