River grass organic and different colored plastic mulch effects on growth, yield, and quality of Moringa oleifera Lam

• The use of plastic mulch is an effective approach in managing soil and crop microenvironments. • Results indicated that different colored plastic improve plant growth and quality of moringa. • Plastic mulching improves food security, climate change, and moisture retention. Food insecurity in Africa is aggravated by land degradation, climate change, and water scarcity, exacerbating the declining crop productivity. Moringa oleifera Lam., known for its nutritional benefits and versatility, could be a promising solution to address food insecurity and malnutrition in South Africa. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of various mulches on moringa growth, yield, and quality. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with six mulch treatments, replicated four times: (1) no mulch, (2) plant residues mulch, (3) red plastic mulch, (4) black plastic mulch, (5) green plastic mulch, and (6) white plastic mulch. Results showed that black plastic mulch significantly improved moringa growth and nutrient composition, with the highest values for plant height (292 cm), stem diameter (72 mm), chlorophyll content (75 spad units), biomass (1.84 kg/plot), and key nutrients: ash (14.93 %), fat (4.92 %), ADF (29.87 %), NDF (42.99 %), and crude protein (27.93 %). Black plastic also enhanced macro-nutrient levels such as phosphorus (80 %), nitrogen (3.8 %), calcium (3.32 %), magnesium (59 %), and potassium (1.8 %). Additionally, it increased manganese (149 mg/kg), iron (125 mg/kg), aluminum (71.25 mg/kg), and zinc (22.45 mg/kg) compared to other mulches. In contrast, red plastic mulch had higher sodium levels (1387 mg/kg), and green and white plastics performed the worst. Black plastic mulch proved to be the most effective in promoting moringa growth and enhancing its nutritional value. This suggests that plastic mulching could be a viable strategy for improving food security and addressing challenges related to soil degradation, climate change, and water scarcity.