An ecological study conducted by the University of Limpopo academic, Professor Paulina Bopape-Mabapa, found that Moringa oleifera helps improve soil nutritional composition, especially in areas where the trees were planted more than three years. She is also an associate professor and head of department of plant production, soil science and agricultural engineering.
High nutrition value
In addition, the study showed that the nutritional composition of the soil differed with soul textural classes with clay soil recording higher nutrient values. The study defines Moringa oleifera as a multipurpose fast-growing tree that is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world due to its numerous benefits. Some of its benefits, according to the study, include medicinal use, industrial use, soil fertility, water purification, climate change mitigation, and nutritional value for humans and livestock.
Strengthening food systems
Professor Bopape-Mabapa said the study was titled: “Yield characteristics, carbon capture, and chemical composition of Moringa oleifera under diverse planting population and agro-ecological conditions of the Limpopo Province”. She said the study was prompted by the realisation that climate change has a direct impact on agro-ecosystem functioning, resulting in declined agricultural production and increased food insecurity. She said one of the most urgent challenges facing the world is to ensure there is proper and adequate food security in the context of the worsening climate change. There is a need for immediate action, she said, to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience in food systems in order to improve access to nutritious food.
Ability to capture carbon
Professor Bopape-Mabapa explained that Moringa is a fast growing plant tolerant to harsh climatic and environmental conditions where many agricultural plants would not survive, requiring only 400 mm of annual rainfall. According to the study, Moringa trees can play a significant role in mitigating adverse effects of climate change, due to its ability to capture carbon. It also has the potential to improve the income and livelihood of smallholder farmers as well as nutritional needs of rural communities.
Generating knowledge
The study also focused on generating knowledge on how Moringa grows, its nutritional composition, seed and oil yield production, said Professor Bopape-Mabapa. It also looked at drought response using gaseous exchange parameters as influenced by plant density in Limpopo Province. Said Professor Bopape-Mabapa: “Regardless of planting density, Moringa leaves contain a high level of nutrients even in marginal production areas. Where temperatures are favourable for improved farmer livelihoods, a population of 5000 plants ha-1 can be used for seed and oil yield production.”
Moringa’s unique characteristics
Other research studies have also revealed Moringa’s unique capability of capturing more carbon among the three species. It maintains good leaf yield under drought conditions, indicating its potential to act as a good carbon dioxide sink. The significance of Professor Bopape-Mabapa’s research is that it establishes a close link between the environment and the development of a sustainable food system. And based on this, she argued there is a great need for further studies to further investigate the negative impact of the climate change which results in severe environmental degradation of the agricultural sector.
Moringa oleifera is a highly valued tree that is widely distributed in
She observed that South Africa and other countries globally are already bearing the devastating brunt of climate change. The smallholder farming sector is particularly affected as it relies on natural resources for production, said Professor Bopape-Mahapa.
