IRRIGATION
Growing moringa plants may not require watering except during hot weather when they may be irrigated once a week. Annual moringa responds well to irrigation and the yield can be doubled (vegetable moringa fruit) by drip irrigation as compared to rain-fed crops, Drip irrigation at the rate of 4 lit/day can enhance yields by 57 per cent as compared to rain-fed crop .
FERTILIZER
Moringa trees are generally grown successfully without fertilizers. Southern India, ring trenches are dug about 10 cm from trees during the rainy season and filled with green leaves, manure and ash, and then covered with soil. This is said to promote higher fruit yields If fertilizers are applied, the crop requires 44 : 16 : 30 g NPK/ tree at the time of pinching (75 days after sowing). Nitrogen @ 44g / tree must be applied as top dressing at first flowering (150-160 days after sowing). (Ssp group)
PEST AND DISEASES
Developing fruit are damaged by the fruit fly Gitona distigmata which can be effectively managed by adopting integrated pest management (IPM) measures. No major disease in India has been reported as affecting the economics of the crop.
RATOONINGLN
Annual moringa, when the harvest is in, the trees are cut down to a height of one meter above ground level for ratooning. These ratoon plants develop new shoots and start bearing four or five months after ratooning. During each ratooning operation, the plants are supplied with the recommended level of n, p and k nutrients.
HARVEST & YIELD
Annual moringa types are seasonal in terms of fruit bearing and the crop sown during comes to harvest within 8 to 9 months. Fruits of sufficient length and girth are harvested before they develop fiber. (Ssp group)
