Preliminary results of Moringa oleifera Lam. grown in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment in a climate change scenario
IntroductionClimate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, is altering global temperature and precipitation patterns, particularly affecting Mediterranean regions. Adaptation strategies, such as introducing low-input and resilient crops, are essential. Moringa oleifera Lam., a drought-tolerant...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1576147/full |
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| author | Giulia Salsi Giulia Salsi Carlo Greco Vito Armando Laudicina Vito Armando Laudicina Caterina Lucia Sofia Maria Muscarella Giuseppe Greco Santo Orlando Giancarlo Fascella Michele Massimo Mammano |
| author_facet | Giulia Salsi Giulia Salsi Carlo Greco Vito Armando Laudicina Vito Armando Laudicina Caterina Lucia Sofia Maria Muscarella Giuseppe Greco Santo Orlando Giancarlo Fascella Michele Massimo Mammano |
| author_sort | Giulia Salsi |
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| description | IntroductionClimate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, is altering global temperature and precipitation patterns, particularly affecting Mediterranean regions. Adaptation strategies, such as introducing low-input and resilient crops, are essential. Moringa oleifera Lam., a drought-tolerant tree native to north-west India, has emerged as a promising candidate due to its high nutritional value, rapid growth, and adaptability to arid environments.MethodsThis study evaluated the effects of planting methods and spacing on the growth and leaf nutrient composition of M. oleifera in Sicily (southern Italy), a semiarid Mediterranean environment. The experiment was conducted over two growing seasons (2021–2022). In 2021, four treatment plots were tested: two planting methods (seeding, S; transplanting, T) and two spacings (50 cm and 100 cm). In 2022, based on 2021 results, two plots were maintained to assess spacing effects (50 and 100 cm) under transplanting.ResultsTransplanted plants (T) showed higher values than seeded (S) in plant height and biomass production. The T50 treatment reached the highest leaf biomass (15 kg ha−1) and nutrient accumulation. Total nitrogen content was 27 kg ha−1 in 2021 and 125 kg ha−1 in 2022 in T50. Similar trends were observed for phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and magnesium concentrations.DiscussionResults demonstrate that M. oleifera maximizes growth and nutrient uptake when transplanted at 50 cm spacing. This cultivation approach supports its potential as a viable alternative crop in semiarid Mediterranean systems, promoting agricultural diversification and resilience for farmers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4d38a1294b54366b754b3a0d3211209 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-e4d38a1294b54366b754b3a0d32112092025-08-20T03:29:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-06-01910.3389/fsufs.2025.15761471576147Preliminary results of Moringa oleifera Lam. grown in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment in a climate change scenarioGiulia Salsi0Giulia Salsi1Carlo Greco2Vito Armando Laudicina3Vito Armando Laudicina4Caterina Lucia5Sofia Maria Muscarella6Giuseppe Greco7Santo Orlando8Giancarlo Fascella9Michele Massimo Mammano10Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyUniversity School for Advanced Studies Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyNBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyCREA, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Palermo, ItalyCREA, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Palermo, ItalyIntroductionClimate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, is altering global temperature and precipitation patterns, particularly affecting Mediterranean regions. Adaptation strategies, such as introducing low-input and resilient crops, are essential. Moringa oleifera Lam., a drought-tolerant tree native to north-west India, has emerged as a promising candidate due to its high nutritional value, rapid growth, and adaptability to arid environments.MethodsThis study evaluated the effects of planting methods and spacing on the growth and leaf nutrient composition of M. oleifera in Sicily (southern Italy), a semiarid Mediterranean environment. The experiment was conducted over two growing seasons (2021–2022). In 2021, four treatment plots were tested: two planting methods (seeding, S; transplanting, T) and two spacings (50 cm and 100 cm). In 2022, based on 2021 results, two plots were maintained to assess spacing effects (50 and 100 cm) under transplanting.ResultsTransplanted plants (T) showed higher values than seeded (S) in plant height and biomass production. The T50 treatment reached the highest leaf biomass (15 kg ha−1) and nutrient accumulation. Total nitrogen content was 27 kg ha−1 in 2021 and 125 kg ha−1 in 2022 in T50. Similar trends were observed for phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and magnesium concentrations.DiscussionResults demonstrate that M. oleifera maximizes growth and nutrient uptake when transplanted at 50 cm spacing. This cultivation approach supports its potential as a viable alternative crop in semiarid Mediterranean systems, promoting agricultural diversification and resilience for farmers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1576147/fullleaf biomassplant growthmacronutrientsmechanical transplanterseedingsuperfood |
| spellingShingle | Giulia Salsi Giulia Salsi Carlo Greco Vito Armando Laudicina Vito Armando Laudicina Caterina Lucia Sofia Maria Muscarella Giuseppe Greco Santo Orlando Giancarlo Fascella Michele Massimo Mammano Preliminary results of Moringa oleifera Lam. grown in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment in a climate change scenario Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems leaf biomass plant growth macronutrients mechanical transplanter seeding superfood |
| title | Preliminary results of Moringa oleifera Lam. grown in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment in a climate change scenario |
| title_full | Preliminary results of Moringa oleifera Lam. grown in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment in a climate change scenario |
| title_fullStr | Preliminary results of Moringa oleifera Lam. grown in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment in a climate change scenario |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preliminary results of Moringa oleifera Lam. grown in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment in a climate change scenario |
| title_short | Preliminary results of Moringa oleifera Lam. grown in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment in a climate change scenario |
| title_sort | preliminary results of moringa oleifera lam grown in a semi arid mediterranean environment in a climate change scenario |
| topic | leaf biomass plant growth macronutrients mechanical transplanter seeding superfood |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1576147/full |
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