Season and Field preparation

Soil

Annual moringa comes up well in a wide range of soil. A deep sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.5 – 8 is ideal for cultivating this crop.

Season

Planting is done during July – October

Seed rate

500 g/ha of seeds are required. Sow two seeds per pit at a depth of 2.5-3.0 cm. The seeds can also be sown in the poly bags containing pot mixture and transplanted after 35 -40 days of sowing.

Preparatory cultivation

Dig pits of size 45 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm with a spacing of 2.0 - 2.5 m either way. Apply 15 kg of compost or FYM/pit after mixing with top soil.

After cultivation

Gap filling may be done within a month. Pinch off the seedlings when they are about 75 cm in height to facilitate more branching. Short duration vegetables like Cowpea, Bhendi and Tomato can be grown as intercrop.

Manuring

A fertilizer dose of 45:15:30 g of NPK/pit may be applied 3 months after sowing. Apply 45 g of N/pit after 6 months when the crop is in bearing.

Irrigation

Irrigate before sowing and on the 3rd day after sowing and subsequently at 10 – 15 days interval according to soil type.