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The effect of the Moringa oleifera agrisilviculture system and fertilizer application on vegetable productivity and soil fertility
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1  Department of Plant Production, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa
Academic Editor: Oscar Vicente

Published: 11 December 2025 by MDPI in The 5th International Electronic Conference on Agronomy session Basic Plant Science
Abstract:

Rising food demand alongside shrinking arable land and resources necessitates more efficient and resilient cultivation methods. In agrisilviculture, trees are grown with crops, promoting ecological and economic interactions. Moringa oleifera Lam. is grown for its nutritional and medicinal values to both humans and animals. Intercropping M. oleifera with vegetables can reduce pest pressure, lowering the need for chemical pesticides and supporting ecological balance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of vegetable crops in an agrisilviculture system and fertilizer application. The experiment consists of three treatments (sole vegetable, M. oleifera + vegetable, and vegetable with fertilizer) laid out in a Randomized complete block design with five replications. Parameters collected include plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, number of branches, plant vigour, Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) and fresh biomass. All studied parameters were found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). For spinach, chlorophyll content, plant vigour, plant height, biomass and radiation use efficiency were positively influenced by the fertilizer application as they obtained greater values of 31.02 µ/mol, 56.08 %, 25.4 cm², 340.47 g and 3.072 g/MJ, respectively. On the other hand, for butternut, leaf area, biomass, stem diameter, number of branches and radiation use efficiency were observed to be high in fertilized plots with values of 73.54 cm², 239.3 g, 51.726 mm, 5.2 and 2.5603 g/MJ, respectively. M. oleifera-based agrisilviculture improved soil fertility, with vegetables under the moringa canopy showing the highest nutrient concentrations (B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, NH₄, P, Zn). Soil moisture was also the highest in agrisilvicultural plots, reaching 15.25% in butternut and 15.27% in spinach. Thus, tree-crop interaction enhances crop resilience by providing shade, improving soil fertility, and conserving water, making it a sustainable option for small-scale farmers.

Keywords: Agrisilviculture, Moringa oleifera, Vegetables, Soil Fertility, Soil Moisture
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