Initial growth of Moringa oleifera Lam. under different planting densities in autumn/winter in south Brazil

Plant densities that decrease interplant competition can improve Moringa oleifera growth and yield by better use of resources and information about its cultivation in the autumn/winter season is necessary. An experiment was conducted to investigate the viability for the cultivation under the edafoclimatic conditions of the southern Brazil, region of subtropical climate. In addition, it was determined effect of planting densities on the initial growth of moringa (M. oleifera Lam.) plants. The experiment was carried out from April to July 2012, autumn/winter season, on a clayey Rhodic Hapludox in Marechal Cândido Rondon, Parana State, Brazil. Treatments were arranged in a randomized block design in a 2 × 3 factorial: two evaluation periods (30 and 60 days after plant emergence) and three plant densities (14,815; 22,222 and 44,444 plant ha–1), with four replications. When grown at lower population densities, the initial growth of moringa plants is not affected. The initial growth of moringa plants in the southern region of Brazil, on autumn/winter season was unsatisfactory due the occurrence of low temperatures. The moringa showed a high mortality rate under low temperature and does not seem to be recommended, in principle, to compose an agroforest system with edafoclimatic conditions similar to those of the studied region.   Key words: Plant population, vegetative growth, adaptation.