SILVA, G. V.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4702487698446928; SILVA, Guilherme Veloso da.
Resumo:
Moringa oleifera Lam. is a tree species from Northeast India, widely cultivated in tropical
countries like India, Egypt, Philippines, Ceylon and Thailand. In Brazil, its cultivation has
intensified in recent years due to its versatility of use, as well as its nutritional properties. It is
a fast-growing, rustic species that requires little technology for cultivation, making it an
excellent alternative for small and medium producers, since it has high added value and the
ability to adapt in different regions of the country, in especially in the Northeast region. In this
context, this study aimed to evaluate different doses of bovine manure and their respective
influence on the growth and reproductive phenology of the moringa culture. The experiment
was installed in the Tubarão settlement, located in the rural area of the city of São José do
Bonfim-PB. The seeds used for sowing were collected from parent trees in the city of Patos-
PB. The experimental design used was in randomized blocks, with five replications. The
treatments corresponded to five doses of bovine manure (0, 3, 4, 5 and 6%), quantified in liters
per pit, as follows: 0.0; 0.9; 1.8; 2.7 and 3.6 L/pit. The pits were opened in the dimensions of
0.40m x 0.40m x 0.30 m in width, length and depth, respectively. In each hole, five seeds were
sown. Each experimental unit was composed of 10 plants per plot. For the morphological
characterization of the vegetative stages, daily observations were made from the fifth day after
sowing. The variables analyzed were: emergence speed index, percentage of emergence, plant
height, stem diameter, number of leaves, height of lateral branches and number of lateral
branches. The development phases were illustrated as there were significant changes in its
structure, marked in the periods of 8, 10, 12, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing. For the
phenological study, 10 individuals were selected within the plot, which were observed weekly
according to the reproductive phenophases (flower buds, flowering trees, end of flowering, new
fruits present, ripe fruits). Two observation methods were used: the phenological activity index
and the Fournier Index. The values of these indexes were associated with precipitation and
temperature. The 4% dose of organic matter was the one that provided the best performance in
the growth variables. The construction of the phenological scale of the vegetative stages of
moringa will serve as a subsidy for understanding the stages of development. Fertilizer sources
3% and 4% showed better results for phenological aspects. The flowering of the moringa must
be considered annual, because the plant has a flowering period in certain months of the year.
Regardless of the sources of fertilization, reproductive phenology showed a strong relationship
with precipitation. The flowering period was 60 days, the physiological maturation lasted 100
days, the time between emergence and production was 8 months.