Effect of Foliar Applied Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) Leaf Extract on Growth, Development and Yield of Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)

Abstract

A series of three Field Experiments was conducted to study the “Effect of foliar applied moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaf extract on growth, development and yield of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. cv. AEM-96)” was carried out at Students' Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production (FCPD), Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam-Pakistan, during the ''Kharif'' season, 2023 and the same Experiments was repeated during the ''Kharif'' season, 2024. All field Experiment were laid out in four replicated randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a single factor arrangement and seven treatments. The net plot size was 4 m x 3 m (12 m²). The study investigates the such as Experiment-I: evaluated five (MLE concentrations @ 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%) along with a control (without MLE) with the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) NPK @ 25: 50: 25 (kg ha⁻¹) applied in all plots. Notably, Experiment-II: assessed the effect of MLE application at different growth stages (10 DAS, 20 DAS, 30 DAS, 40 DAS and 50 DAS), while Experiment-III: examined the integrated use of NPK fertilization combined with multiple foliar sprays of MLE. This study investigates the effects, optimal application levels, treatment-wise statistical relationships, and economic feasibility of moringa leaf extract (MLE) as a sustainable bio-nutrient alternative to synthetic fertilizers for enhancing mungbean growth and yield. The research seeks to enhance sustainable crop production by leveraging the synergistic benefits of synthetic fertilizers and natural plant-based extracts. It also focuses on evaluating treatment-wise responses using correlation and regression, while promoting MLE as an economical bio-nutrient alternative to synthetic fertilizers. Throughout the Experiments, the study aimed to evaluate the measurements included soil Physio-chemical properties, Agronomic traits, Physiological attributes, Meteorological observations, Grain nutrient status, and Economic returns. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistix-8.1 software with the HSD test to compare treatment effects, while the regression and Pearson correlation analysis tested relationships among variables. The results from Experiment-I: evaluated that the Moringa Leaf Extract (MLE) significantly improved mungbean growth, yield and economic returns with MLE @ 100% reduced days to first seed germination DFSG (4.5 days) treatment T₇ compared to the control (11 days) treatment T₁ and produced the highest seed yield SY (1942.87 kg ha⁻¹), outperforming the control (1386.87 kg ha⁻¹) and (RDF-NPK) treatment T₂ alone (1536.75 kg ha⁻¹). Similarly, Regression analysis indicated strong explanatory power (R² = 0.857; Adjusted R² = 0.807), while Correlation coefficients (: r = 0.993–0.998***) confirmed strong positive associations among yield-related traits, achieving the highest benefit–cost–ratio (BCR = 3.955). In Experiment-II, MLE application at 10 DAS treatment (T₃) resulted in the maximum seed yield SY (2042.75 kg ha⁻¹), plant height PH (83.91 cm), and grain protein content PC (23.95%), supported by a highly significant model (R² = 0.8843; F = 26.77; p < 0.00000001) and strong correlations with pods plant⁻¹ PPP (: r = 0.9985***) and net assimilation rate (NAR, g m^-² day^-1: r = 0.9993***), with the highest benefit–cost–ratio (BCR = 4.035). Notably, the results of Experiment-III, combined application of NPK + four foliar sprays of MLE treatment (T₆) produced the highest seed yield SY (1935 kg ha⁻¹), plant height PH (83.33 cm), days to first seed germination DFSG (5.25 days), strong Regression fit (R² = 0.8413; p < 0.0001), and maximum economic return (BCR = 3.94). Overall, MLE, particularly at 100% concentration (200 L ha⁻¹), proved an effective bio-stimulant enhancing mungbean productivity, quality, and profitability while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers.