EFFECT OF MORINGA LEAF EXTRACT AND POWDER APPLICATIONS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT UNDER SEMI-ARID CONDITIONS

Abstract

Ensuring global food security requires the adoption of sustainable, cost-effective bio-stimulant strategies to enhance the productivity of staple crops like wheat. This study aimed to systematically evaluate and compare the effects of foliar-applied Moringa Leaf Extract (MLE) and soil-applied Moringa Dry Leaf Powder (MDLp) on the growth and final yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in semi-arid environments. The experiment utilized a Randomized Complete Block Design to test various application timings, including seed treatment and foliar sprays. Results consistently demonstrated that treatments receiving foliar sprays of MLE at critical growth stages exhibited superior agronomic and yield traits. Specifically, three foliar applications of MLE (at 40, 75, and 100 days after sowing) proved most effective, increasing grain yield by over 26.82% and enhancing 1000-seed weight by 19.49% compared to the untreated control. This superior performance was driven by significant gains in key yield components, including increased tiller density, spikelets per spike, and grain number per spike. While seed treatment was beneficial for early crop growth rate, the MLE foliar application sustained higher growth rates throughout the mid-to-late season. These findings emphasize that MLE, particularly when administered through multiple foliar sprays, serves as a potent natural biostimulant that effectively enhances both the vegetative and reproductive capacity of wheat. This environmentally friendly practice offers a viable and sustainable approach to improve crop productivity in water-limited environments.