Effect of different concentrations and durations of foliar application of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf extract concentrations on the growth and seed production of onion
Published 2025-10-17
Keywords
- Onion,
- Growth,
- Moringa Leaf Extract,
- Fo,
- Seed Yield
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2025 Maqsood Ali Wagan, Maria Abro, Muhammad Nawaz Baloch, Mohammad Asif, Qamber Khan, Farhan Ali Wagan, Narjis Abro, Ali Raza Abro
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Moringa Leaf Extract (MLE) is an effective natural bio stimulant known for enhancing crop growth and productivity. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different concentrations and application intervals of MLE on the growth and seed production traits of onion (Allium cepa L.). A total of nine treatments were evaluated, including four MLE concentrations (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) applied weekly or biweekly, along with a control. The foliar spray of MLE was initiated at the early vegetative stage and continued until umbel development, while a uniform basal dose of NPK was applied to all plots. Growth parameters such as days to 50% bolting, flowering, and maturity, flower stalk height, number of stalks per bulb, umbel diameter, and seed-related traits including number of seeds per umbel, seed weight, seed yield per plant, Seed weight per plot, and 1000-seed weight were recorded. The results revealed significant differences among treatments. The application of 15% MLE at biweekly intervals (T₇) led to the earliest maturity (125 days), while the highest seed yield per hectare (987.21 kg) was recorded in T₈ (20% MLE weekly). Treatments involving moderate MLE concentrations and less frequent applications, such as 10% biweekly and 15% biweekly, resulted in early flowering and enhanced seed development, indicating an efficient physiological response. Conversely, lower concentrations and control showed limited effects, while excessively frequent applications of high MLE concentrations led to delayed maturity and reduced efficiency. The study concludes that moderate concentrations of MLE (10–15%) applied at biweekly intervals are effective in enhancing both vegetative and reproductive performance in onion, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical growth enhancers for improved seed production.
References
- Bhattacharya, A., & Bhattacharya, A. (2021). Dry matter production, partitioning, and seed yield under soil water deficit: a review. Soil Water Deficit and Physiological Issues in Plants, 585-702.
- Foidl, N., Makkar, H. P. S., & Becker, K. (2001). The potential of Moringa oleifera for agricultural and industrial uses. In The Miracle Tree: The Multiple Attributes of Moringa (pp. 45–76). CTA Publications.
- Rady, M. M., El-Monem, E. A. A., & Abu Qamar, S. F. (2013). Moringa leaf extract improves growth, physiologic attributes, antioxidant defense system and yields of salt-stressed maize plants. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 63, 104–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2012.11.017
- Yasmeen, A., Basra, S. M. A., Farooq, M., Rehman, H. U., & Hussain, N. (2012). Exogenous application of moringa leaf extract modulates the antioxidant enzyme system to improve wheat performance under saline conditions. Plant Growth Regulation, 68(3), 415–424. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-012-9732-3
- Hafeez, A., Tipu, M. I., Saleem, M. H., Al-Ashkar, I., Saneoka, H., & El Sabagh, A. (2022). Foliar application of moringa leaf extract (MLE) enhanced antioxidant system, growth, and biomass related attributes in safflower plants. South African Journal of Botany, 150, 1087-1095.
- Hala, H. A. E. N., El-Noor, A., & Ewais, N. A. (2017). Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MLE) on pepper seed germination, seedlings improvement, growth, fruit yield and its quality. Middle East J. Agric. Res, 6(2), 448-463.
- Kanchani, A. M. K. D. M., & Harris, K. D. (2019). Effect of foliar application of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf extract with recommended fertilizer on growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). AGRIEAST: Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 13(2).
- Mashamaite, C. V., Ngcobo, B. L., Manyevere, A., Bertling, I., & Fawole, O. A. (2022). Assessing the usefulness of Moringa oleifera leaf extract as a biostimulant to supplement synthetic fertilizers: A Review. Plants, 11(17), 2214.
- Minuzzi, L. G., Rama, L., Chupel, M. U., Rosado, F., Dos Santos, J. V., Simpson, R., & Teixeira, A. M. (2018). Effects of lifelong training on senescence and mobilization of T lymphocytes in response to acute exercise. Exerc Immunol Rev, 24(1), 72-84.
- Nawaz, H., Rehman, H. U., Ihsan, M. Z., Rizwan, M. S., Hussain, N., Ali, B., & Arslan, M. (2024). Organic seed priming with curtailed seed rate compensated wheat grains productivity by upgrading anti-oxidant status against terminal drought at flowering and milking. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 4941.
- Niharika, Singh, N. B., Singh, A., Khare, S., Yadav, V., Bano, C., & Yadav, R. K. (2021). Mitigating strategies of gibberellins in various environmental cues and their crosstalk with other hormonal pathways in plants: a review. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, 39, 34-49.
- Odey, S. O., & Bello, R. S. (2024). Modeling Growth and Yield of Crops Using Different Tillage Systems. In Strategic Tillage and Soil Management-New Perspectives. IntechOpen.
- Pareek, S., Sagar, N. A., Sharma, S., & Kumar, V. (2017). Onion (Allium cepa L.). Fruit and Vegetable Phytochemicals: Chemistry and Human Health, 2nd Edition, 1145-1162.
- Rajan, N., Debnath, S., Perveen, K., Khan, F., Pandey, B., Srivastava, A., & Lal, M. (2023). Optimizing hybrid vigor: a comprehensive analysis of genetic distance and heterosis in eggplant landraces. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1238870.
- Solankey, S. S., & Kumari, M. (Eds.). (2023). Advances in Research on Vegetable Production Under a Changing Climate Vol. 2.
- Statistix. (2006). Statistics 8.1 user guide, version 1.0. Analytical software, P.O. Box 12185, Tallahassee fl 32317 USA.
- Wang, F., Li, S., Kong, F., Lin, X., & Lu, S. (2023). Altered regulation of flowering expands growth ranges and maximizes yields in major crops. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1094411.
- Wu, W., Du, K., Kang, X., & Wei, H. (2021). The diverse roles of cytokinins in regulating leaf development. Horticulture Research, 8.
- Yousafzai, W. S., Ullah, I., Ali, A., Iqbal, M., & Khan, S. (2019). An analysis of allocative efficiency of growing onion in district swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 35(4), 1185-1191.
- Zaman, M., Kurepin, L. V., Catto, W., & Pharis, R. P. (2015). Enhancing crop yield with the use of N‐based fertilizers co‐applied with plant hormones or growth regulators. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 95(9), 1777-1785.
- Zhao, B., Liu, Q., Wang, B., & Yuan, F. (2021). Roles of phytohormones and their signaling pathways in leaf development and stress responses. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 69 (12), 3566-3584.
- Zulfiqar, F., Casadesús, A., Brockman, H., & Munné-Bosch, S. (2020). An overview of plant-based natural biostimulants for sustainable horticulture with a particular focus on moringa leaf extracts. Plant Science, 295, 110194.
- Mitra, J., Shrivastava, S. Á., & Rao, P. S. (2012). Onion dehydration: a review. Journal of food science and technology, 49(3), 267-277.
- Yasmeen, A. (2011). Exploring the potential of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf extract as natural plant growth enhancer. Doctor of Philosphy in Agronomy, Department of Agronomy Faculty of Agriculture, University Of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
- Mashamaite, C. V., Ngcobo, B. L., Manyevere, A., Bertling, I., & Fawole, O. A. (2022). Assessing the usefulness of Moringa oleifera leaf extract as a biostimulant to supplement synthetic fertilizers: A Review. Plants, 11(17), 2214.
- Yaseen, A., & Hájos, M. T. (2020). Effect of Moringa leaf extract and set size on the bulb weight, diameter and yield of onions (Allium cepa L.). Acta Agraria Debreceniensis, (2), 127-131.