This document provides information about drumstick (Moringa oleifera), including its botany, uses, cultivation practices, varieties, pests and diseases, and nutritional benefits. It notes that drumstick is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree native to South Asia. All parts of the plant are used, including the leaves, pods, flowers, seeds, roots, and bark. The document outlines drumstick's cultivation requirements and production practices, and identifies several pests and diseases that affect the crop. It concludes by discussing drumstick's high nutritional value but also notes some cautions about consuming certain parts of the plant.

1. Drum Stick
Moringa oleifera
Prepared by Submitted to
Pooja Kumari Chaudhary (Roll no 49) RUKMAGAT PATHAK
Pooja Poudel Chettri (Roll no 50) Assistant professor
Pradeep Kumar Teli (Roll no 51) Department of Horticulture
Prakash Baduwal (Roll no 52) and plant protection
Prakash Dhakal (Roll no 53) IAAS PAKHILHAWA
Prakriti Ghimire (Roll no 54) RUPANDEHI

2. Introduction
Moringa oieifera or drumstick is a drought- resistant tree
belongs to the family moringaceae. The drumstick tree is called
by many other common names for its qualities like maringa,
benzoil tree and horseradish tree. The drumstick is a vegetable
plant grown for its edible tender pods, leaves and flowers that are
nutrient rich. It is native to tropical regions of south asia and india
is the largest producer of the drumstick with an annual production
of 1-1.3 million tonnes of fruits. It is also grown in other asian
countries like the philippines, sri lanka, malaysia indonesia and
taiwan.

3. Botany
The tree is a fast growing (10 -12m height) drought resistant and perennial vegetable tree.
The tree branches are dropping with leaves that are tripinnate with elliptic leaflets.
The pods are long pendulous and seeds inside are trigonous in shape with wings on angles.
The tree bears yellowish creamy white flowers that are bisexual with sweet fragnance growing
on slender hairy stalks.
Drumstick is highly valued for its indispensable therapeautic properties and nutritional benefits

4. Uses and Importance
 Leaves are very good source of carotene, antioxidants, quercetin and
chlorogenic acid.
 Foliage is eaten as green salads and used in vegetable curries.
 The seeds yield edible oil called been oil which is odourless, clear
with high strength of behenic acid and are roasted and enjoyed as a
snack like peas or nuts. Seed cake after oil extraction is used as
manure or as a floc to purify water.
 The shredded root with a distinct flavour is used as a condiment.
 The bark, sap, roots, leaves, seeds and flowers are used for
traditional medicines.
 Medicinal value: strengthens bone, boosts immunity, regulates
hypertension and kidney health, lower risk of cancer, etc.

5. Climate and Soil Requirements
The plants grow well in tropical and sub-tropical climate conditions. The temperature with
luxuriant plant growth is 25°c-35°c . the tree is susceptible to frost and shedding of flowers is
observed when day temperature exceeds 40°c. Moringa is a sun and heat loving plant are
particularly suitable for dry regions as it can be grown using rainwater without expensive
irrigation techniques.
The plant can be grown in a wide range of soil. Well-drained sandy loam soils with a PH of
6.0-7.0 are ideal soil conditions while red soils are recommended as highly seedlings vigor is
observed.

6. Drumstick cultivars
Drumstick varieties are classified into perennial and annual types:
1. Perennial type: these varieties have been in cultivation for centuries. They are typically
propagated through cuttings. These trees are less resistant to pest and diseases while
requiring greater rainfall. The trees take a long time to grow and are usually not preferred for
commercial cultivation.
2. Annual type: these trees are common and regular trees that we found in the current
cultivation developed through plant breeding research. They are propagated through seeds
offering fast growth, early maturity, higher yields, and adapts to various soil and climatic
conditions.

7. Varieties of Drumstick
Moringa can be classified into different varieties on the basis of ayurveda and varieties developed by
public sector.
 On the basis of ayurveda, moringa has three varieties, shyama (black variety), shveta (red variety) and
rakta (red variety).
 On the basis of varieties developed by public sector, moringa has km1, pkm1, pkm2, gkvk1, gkvk2,
gkvk3, dhanraj, bhagya (kdm1), konkan ruchira, anupama and rohit 1 varieties.

8. Land Preparation
Deep ploughing of the land is required for drumstick farming. About 20 tones of farmyard manure is
incorporated per hectare at the time of the last ploughing of the land. For perennial cultivars, pit size of
about 45×45×45 cm is dug at every 6×6 meter spacing while for annual cultivars, pits are dug at 2.5×2.5
meter spacing. For farming of drumstick leaves, 1.0×1.0 meter spacing can be maintained. Each pit is filled
with a well-mixed mixture of soil, 10-15 kg FYM or compost along with 100 gm of nitrogen, 200 gm of
phosphorus and 50 gm of potassium before the onset of monsoon.

9. Nursery Raising
For using nursery raised plants, polybags with dimensions of about 18 cm in height and 12 cm in diameter
is used. The soil mixtures for the sacs should be light, i.E. 3 parts soil and 1 part sand. Two or three seeds in
each sack is planted, 1-2 cm deep. Moisture should be maintained but it shouldn’t be too wet. Germination
will occur within 5-12 days, depending on the age of the seeds and pre-treatment method used. Extra
seedlings are removed, leaving one in each sack. Seedings can be out planted when they are 60-90 cm high.
When out planting, cut a hole in the bottom of the sack big enough to allow roots to emerge. The soil around
the roots of the seedlings should be retained. To encourage rapid germination, pre-seeding treatment can be
carried out in drumstick farming

10. Tips for growing Drumstick
 Soak the seeds for 24 hours and dry them in the shade before planting for early germination.
 Plant the seedlings in a big container and place it indoors for cold climate regions.
 Drumstick needs well drained soils with 6-7 ph value.
 Flowering happens once in a year or twice in a year. Pruning if left unchecked, they grow fast and
reach 40 feet in a few years.
 Harvest drumstick pods when they are immature and tender, about half an inch in diameter.
 For fresh greens, harvest young seedlings, growing tips, and young leaves.
 For dried leaf powder, harvest older leaves.
 For seed oil extraction, leave the pods for ripening on the tree until they dry out and turn brown.

11. Seed treatment
Soaked the seed in the cup for about 24 hours then water is to be seive and dry the seed in a
shaded place .After that, for 40 seed 1gm of carbendazim is treated and keep the treated seed for
a while so that chemical is stick with the seeds .

12. Propagation in Drumstick Farming
There are two types of propagation in drumstick farming.
1.Seed Propagation:
This method is suitable for annual cultivar types. Seeds are sown in two to three-centimeter depth in
each pit. Under regular and proper irrigation, germination happens after 8 to 10 days.
2.Stem Cutting
This method is suitable for perennial cultivar types. When trees stop producing pods, cut off the
branches for growing new trees and this will promote fresh growth. Cut branches that are 5 to 12 cm
in diameter and 100 to 150 cm in length for planting in each pit. Application of cow dung on the top
end of the cutting will protect the cut-branches from pests and diseases at the time of planting. For
proper root and plant growth, place one-third part of the cut-branch inside the soil pit.

13. Planting season:
Planting is done during july to october.
Spacing
 For intensive drumstick or moringa production,plant the tree every 3m rows 3m apart.
 When the trees are part of an alley-cropping system, there should be 10m between the
rows.
Seed rate and depth of sowing :
• 500 gram/ha of seeds are required.
• Planting depth of 2.5-3cm,the seeds can also be shown in the polybag containing pot
mixture and transplanted after 35-40 days of sowing.

14. Intercultural operations
Weeding:
 Remove or incorporate previous crop residues before planting.
 Plant to grow suitable intercrop like legumes, ginger etc.
 Crop should be weed free upto 3 months by interculture and hand weeding.
Irrigation :
 Drumstick plant do not need much watering .
 In every dry conditions, water regularly for the first two months and afterward only when
the tree is obviously suffering.
 This crop is quite hardy and during dry season requires irrigation once in two weeks and for
commercial cultivation, drip irrigation can be adopted with a daily application rate of 12-16
liter of water/tree during summer and half this rate during other season.

15. Manure and Fertilizer
 Moringa trees will generally grow well without adding very much fertilizer. After the third
month of sowing or planting, 100 gm of urea, 100 gm of superphosphate, and 50 gm of
murate of potash should be applied to each plant or pit. During flowering time, apply 100 gm
of urea per plant or pit. Heavy irrigation should be provided at the time of pod development.
Pruning :
 Pruning of plants can be practiced after one and half year of planting coinciding with winter
months at a height of about 3 feet and allow 4-5 branches per tree 2 feet above the ground
level.

16. Harvesting
 When harvesting pods for human consumption, harvest when the pods are still
young (about 1cm in diameter) and snap easily. Older pods develop a tough
exterior, but the white seeds and flesh remain edible until the ripening process
begins. When producing seed for planting or for oil extraction, allow the pods to
dry and turn brown on the tree. In some cases, it may be necessary to prop up a
branch that holds many pods to prevent it breaking off. Harvest the pods before
they split open and seeds fall to the ground. Seeds can be stored in well-ventilated
sacks in dry, shady places. Harvesting of drumstick pods should be done when
pods are immature (1 cm diameter). Mature pods are also edible but they develop
tough outer structure.
 Leaves of drumstick can be harvested when plant grows 150 -200 cm tall, which
take 3-4 months in fertile soil.
Yield
This basically depends on seed type/variety cultivated. The yield could be around 50
– 55 tonnes of pods per hectare (220 pods per tree per year).

17. Post Harvest Technology
While pods and green leaves have to be sold soon they are harvested for
consumption as food, the leaves and seeds can be preserved for future consumption.
Leaves can be dried in shade, powdered and kept stored properly for use in food
preparations, as the high nutritive value of the leaves makes it a preferable source of
nutrition. The seeds are useful for oil extraction which is used in soap making, in
medicinal preparations and as lubricant in fine machines like watches. The seed is
also used in powdered form for medicinal use. They can be stored more than one
year for further use of propagation or consumption.
Value Added Products
1. Drumstick leaf powder in packages and container
2. Drumstick pickles
3. Drumstick oil – due to low viscosity it is used in precision industry as lubricant
especially in western european countries
4. Drumstick pods cake

18. Pests and Diseases in Drumstick Farming:
1. Bud Worm (Noorda moringa)
The insect lays a creamy oval-shaped single egg on flower buds. When eggs
hatch, dirty brown larva with black head bores into flower buds and causes
shedding by feeding over them.
Collect the infected flowers and buds having larva or eggs and cocoon from the
topsoil and destroy them completely. Spray the fields with Malathion one-liter
per hectare.
2. Pod Fly (Gitonadistigma):
This insect is a fly that looks yellowish with red eyes. The fly lays cigar-shaped
eggs in groups near the grooves of tender pods.
To control, Use citronella oil, or eucalyptus oil, or vinegar, or dextrose, or lactic
acid to attract the adult flies. Infested fields must be sprayed with insecticides
such as 3 ml of Nimbecidine in one-liter water during 50% pod formation and
next dosage after 30 to 35 days.

19. 3. Lead Caterpillar (Noordablitealis):
•The adult insect lays a cluster of white oval-shaped eggs on tender shoots.
The larva feeds on the leaves destroying the foliage into papery structures.
•To control, spray the fields with registered insecticides like one-gram of
Carbaryl 50 WP in a liter of water or 2 ml of Malathion 50 EC in one-liter of
water.
4. Bark Caterpillar (Indarbelatetraonis):
The adult moth is pale brown to look with brown spots on its forewings and
with hind wings that are white in color.
To control, clean the boreholes by removing webbed material in mass on the
tree bark affected places.

20. 5. Hairy Caterpillar (Eupterotemollifera):
A large size yellowish brown colored moth lays a cluster of eggs on tender shoots and leaves.
They destroy the trees by scrapping the bark and eating away the foliage and under severe
infestation; the foliage of the tree gets completely destroyed.
To control, destroy the cluster of eggs and caterpillars. Usually, the adult insects appear after
the rains. Place light traps in the fields to attract and kill the insects immediately. Spray the
fields with insecticides such as 25 grams of FORS in one-liter of water or two-grams of
Carbaryl 50 WP in one-liter of water.

21. 6. Twig canker
• The first symptom of the disease is clearing of the
veinlets and chlorosis of the leaves.
• The younger leaves may die in succession and the entire
may wilt and die in a course of few days.
• Soon the petiole and the leaves droop and wilt.
• In young plants, symptom consists of clearing of veinlet
and dropping of petioles.
• The symptoms continue in subsequent leaves.
• At later stage, browning of vascular system occurs.
• Plants become stunted and die.

22. Pests Disease Treatment
To protect moringa from these pests and diseases, following practices can be done-
• Plough during summers and destroy the alternate host plants.
• Avoid overlapping of plants in nearby area.
• Provide proper nutrients to moringa by spreading 7-8 kg of compost per hole.
• Remove previous crop residues and plan to grow legumes and ginger intercrops.
• Use light soil with proper drainage.
• Spray nske (neem seed kernel extract) 5% during 50% plant growth and after 35 days to protect it from
pod fly.
• Soil solarization using clear plastic sheet to burn weeds.
 Drumsticks also need to be protected from livestock as cattle, goats, sheep will eat its pods and leaves.
Installation of proper fencing around plants will protect the plants.

23. Why drumstick a superfood?
These are a few of the benefits attributed to moringa:
1. High in nutrients
2. May reduce inflammation
3. Positive effects on cholesterol
4. Help for breastfeeding mothers
5. Possible arsenic protection
6. Natural energy booster

24. Cautions about Moringa
 Like many herbs and plants used as remedies, certain parts of the plant are beneficial while others
can be harmful in some way. This is true with elderberries, which are excellent at helping boost
the immune system, but whose leave and stems should be avoided because of the
natural cyanogenic glycoside content, which is toxic to humans.
 The leaves of the moringa oleifera tree are generally considered to be safe and edible, but there is
some controversy regarding the roots and stems and their potentially harmful effects, especially in
women. These parts of the plant may not only act as a contraceptive (both temporary or
permanent) but may also lead to miscarriage and other problems.
 There is research showing a potentially immunosuppressive and cytotoxic effect of the seeds of
the plant, and extracts or supplements that contain the roots, seeds and stems should be avoided
for this reason until more research is done.
 Additionally, the leaves of the plant have been shown to have a mildly laxative effect and may
cause digestive disturbances in some people.
 Some sources recommend avoiding moringa entirely as the nutrients it contains can be easily
obtained from other sources and a well-balanced diet.

25. Thank You