Moringa oleifera L.: A Potential Plant for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in Temperate Agriculture Systems

Adrian Mangar, Stefan Muetzel, Anurag Malik, Axay Bhuker, Virender Mor, Adrian Molenaar, Svetla Sofkova-Bobcheva, Sarah Pain and Craig McGill
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Adrian Mangar: School of Agriculture and the Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
Stefan Muetzel: Resilient Agriculture, AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
Anurag Malik: Department of Seed Science and Technology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125004, Haryana, India
Axay Bhuker: Department of Seed Science and Technology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125004, Haryana, India
Virender Mor: Department of Seed Science and Technology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125004, Haryana, India
Adrian Molenaar: Resilient Agriculture, AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
Svetla Sofkova-Bobcheva: School of Agriculture and the Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
Sarah Pain: School of Agriculture and the Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
Craig McGill: School of Agriculture and the Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: The earth’s climate is changing because of the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) concentration, to which livestock is a major contributor. Methane produced from cattle can be reduced by using high quality forages. This study compared the GHG produced from M. oleifera in an artificial ruminant system with two high quality pasture species, ryegrass and white clover. Methane and total gas production were measured using an in vitro batch culture system. A preliminary screening using oven dried M . oleifera planted in field and greenhouse, and a main experiment using six provenances of M . oleifera , a composite sample and M . oleifera leaves from greenhouse was undertaken. Both experiments compared the M . oleifera from different sources with high quality ryegrass and white clover. Real time gas production was recorded for 48 h, total gas production, methane analysed at 12 and 24 h. Short chain fatty acids concentration were also determined at the end of the fermentation. Preliminary results showed that M . oleifera leaves grown in field and greenhouse have lower gas and methane production compared with ryegrass, but similar to white clover. The differences were driven by a high production of propionic and butyric acids. The six M . oleifera provenances also produced less methane than ryegrass but were similar to white clover at 12 and 24 h after the start of fermentation. M . oleifera fermented faster than ryegrass or white clover. Hydrogen production from fermentation of M . oleifera might not have been diverted to methane production but removed by other compounds. In vitro fermentation showed differences in methane production across provenances. This suggests that it may be possible to select for low methane genotypes.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera; methane; greenhouse; cattle; provenances (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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