Adjusting planting distance plus mineral fertilization to boost growth, yield, and some active ingredients of Moringa stenopetala

Moringa stenopetala, (African Moringa) a drought-resistant and nutritionally rich plant native to East Africa, has gained attention for its potential in food security and medicinal applications. Optimizing agronomic practices such as planting distance and mineral fertilization is crucial to enhancing its growth and phytochemical profile. This study explores how varying planting distances and fertilization levels influence the morphological traits, biomass yield, and nutrient composition of M. stenopetala, aiming to identify the most effective combination for maximizing both productivity and nutritional quality. This study investigated the influence of varying planting distance D1 (20 × 60 cm), D2 (40 × 60 cm), D3 (60 × 60 cm) and three mineral fertilization levels F1 (N100 P100 K50 kg/fed), F2 (N200 P200 K100 kg/fed) and F3 (N300 P300 K150 kg/fed) on the growth, yield, and phytochemical composition of M. stenopetala. Results indicated that the largest plant height (110.80 cm) was achieved at the highest planting distance (D3), with fertilization level (F3), which also promoted growth parameters. The number of leaves increased by an average of 44.70 with higher fertilization, while the number of branches increased to 14.30 at D3. Biomass yield was maximized with D3F3 238 gm/plant, which also led to the highest nitrogen (2.63%) and phosphorus (0.29%) content in leaves. Micronutrient analysis showed D3F3 produced the highest Fe, Zn, and Mn levels, with Fe reaching 340 ppm and Zn 38.80 ppm. Phytochemical analysis revealed that D3F3 significantly elevated chlorophyll (9.32 mg/100 g), flavonoids (1.50 mg/g), carotenoids (12.92 mg/100 g), tannins (6.50 mg/100 g), and L-ascorbic acid (258 mg/100 g). Overall, the combination of wider planting distance combined with optimal fertilization (D3F3) improved plant growth, nutrient content, and active ingredients, thereby enhancing the nutritional and functional yield plus quality of M. stenopetala.