Organic compost ammendment added for improving growth traits, nutritional status and quality of <italic>Moringa oleifera</italic> L. seedlings.

AbstractThe production of <italic>Moringa oleifera</italic> L. using sustainable and accessible regional inputs constitutes an alternative to boost its cultivation in tropical environments. This study aimed to evaluate the production of <italic>M. oleifera</italic> seedlings cultivated in substrate constituted of different proportions of organic compost and soils. The treatments consisted of substrates obtained from five proportions of organic compost from tree pruning and bovine manure (0:100; 20:80; 40:60; 60:40, and 80:20 v/v of organic compost and soil). After 120 days of sowing, the following evaluations were carried out: root length, plant height, stem diameter, aerial part dry matter mass, roots, total and their relationships, chlorophyll A, B and total, Dickson Quality Score and accumulations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the aerial part dry matter mass. The application of different proportions of organic compost for the formulation of the substrate stimulated the growth of <italic>M. oleifera</italic> seedlings for all the variables analyzed. The dose of organic compost that provided greater responses based on Dickson Quality Index was 73% of organic compost added to the soil to form the substrate and therefore recommended for the production of <italic>M. oleifera</italic> L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]