Effects of two potting soils on growth of Moringa oleifera (Lam.) and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) in Kéréwane (Kolda/Sénégal)

Abstract

Moringa oleifera and Leucaena leucocephala are two species which constitute a significant food, medicinal and economic source for the populations of Casamance. The objective of this study is to determine the most suitable substrate for good germination and better growth of these species. Thus a completely randomized block design with two factors (species and substrates) repeated four times was installed. The germination rate, the number of leaves, the diameter at the collar, the height, the humidity and the biomass were determined. The results of the germination rate showed that there was no significant difference between the treatments for both M. oleifera and L. leucocephala regardless of the treatment. The number of leaves, the growth in diameter and in height are significantly higher in the plants of the treatment S1 (9.70 leaves / plant; 0.41 cm for the diameter at the collar and 28.05 cm for the average height of the plants) for M.oleifera compared to other treatments (number of leaves P=0.003; diameter at the collar P=0.001 and height P=0.04). With regard to L. leucocephala, no significant difference (P=0.75) was noted for the number of leaves and the diameter at the collar (P=0.19) between the different substrates. The height of the plants of the substrate S3 (13.54 cm) of L. leucocephala is significantly different (P=0.001) compared to the other substrates. The results of the moisture content of the M. oleifera and L. leucocephala plants did not show any significant difference whatever the substrate. Regarding the dry aerial and root biomass of the plants of M. oleifera and L. leucocephala, the results showed that there is no significant difference between the substrates (P=0.46 for M. oleifera and P=0.21 for L. leucocephala).