CRESCIMENTO INICIAL DE MORINGA (Moringa oleifera Lam) SOB OMISSÃO DE NUTRIENTES

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam is a leguminous species well adapted to arid and semi arid conditions and is largely used as ornamental for parks and gardens in the animal feeding and human diet and as medicinal. Since research informations on this plant species are scarce, the current work aimed to evaluate the production of leaves, stems and roots dry matter in Moringa oleifera Lam seedlings hidroponicaly grown under physiological conditions or not. The treatments used were the following: (1) nutrient solution containing all required macronutrients (experimental control) or lacking (2) N; (3) P; (4) K; (5) Ca; (6) Mg and (7) S. The Moringa oleifera Lam showed different responses to the imposed treatments. Nutrient solution free of N, P and Mg decreased whole dry matter production (WDM) and increased root to shoot ratios (R/S), however both parameters were not affected in plants grown under absence of K, Ca and S in the nutrient solution.