Using Moringa Oleifera Seed Cake and Compost as Organic Soil Amendments for Sustainable Agriculture in Valencia Orange Orchard

This work was conducted during two consecutive seasons of 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 at the Experimental Research Station of National Research Centre at Nubaria, El Behiera governorate, Egypt. Twelve year old Valencia orange trees (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) budded on Volkamer lemon rootstock, grown in sandy soil under drip irrigation system as plant materials to study the effect of six organic soil amendment treatments on soil hydrophysical properties, soil water retention, soil water movement, plant nutrient contents, yield, fruit quality and water productivity. Treatments namely, moringa seed cake 100% (3 tons/fed), 1 moringa seed cake: 2 compost, 1 moringa seed cake: 1 compost, 2 moringa seed cake: 1 compost, compost 100% (3 tons/fed) and control (none moringa seed cake and none compost) on nutrient contents, yield and fruit quality. Results showed that the application of moringa seed cake in combination with compost at 2:1 achieved the best results in terms of soil properties and water productivity of Valencia orange trees. This in turn improved nutritional status and increased the productivity of trees as well as fruit quality compared to the control.