Initial Vegetative Growth Performance of Moringa oleifera Varieties at Two Locations in Rautahat District, Nepal

Abstract

The study aims to carry out an experiment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in two locations (Terai and Chure) in Nepal to assess the vegetative growth performance of five Moringa varieties (PKM1, PKM2, ODC3, MOMAX, and Local). Measured growth parameters are plant height, root collar diameter, diameter at breast height (DBH), and number of branches at 90, 120, 150, and 180 days after transplanting (DAT). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to assess differences across varieties and locations. The results showed significant differences in the plant height and root collar diameter among Moringa varieties. ODC3 variety was the tallest (2.75 meters), and MOMAX exhibited the highest root collar diameter (13.15 centimeters). Moreover, the Terai area favored better growth performance compared to the Chure area in all measured parameters, which could be attributed to favorable soil quality, nutrient availability, and climatic conditions. Survival rate analysis revealed that the Terai area had a 100% survival rate, while the Chure area showed 70%. It was found that ODC-3 had greater survivability (89%) compared to other varieties in the Chure region. The findings suggest the importance of selecting suitable Moringa varieties for site-specific conditions to optimize Moringa production.