Resumen

PEREZ, A; SANCHEZ, Tania; ARMENGOL, Nayda  y  REYES, F. Characteristics and potential of Moringa oleifera, Lamark: An alternative for animal feeding. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2010, vol.33, n.4, pp.1-1. ISSN 0864-0394.

Moringa oleifera is the most widely known species of the Moringa genus. It is a tree which originated in the south of the Himalayas, northeast India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is distributed over a large part of the planet and in Central America; it is known with different common names: drumstick tree, acacia and French jasmine, among others. This paper addresses different aspects of this species, such as: its origin and distribution, agronomic factors and biomass production, chemical composition and utilization. It is a plant which stands out for its multiple usages and adaptation to different edaphoclimatic conditions, for which it constitutes a choice for feeding, especially in tropical countries. The tree M. oleifera is concluded to have large ecological plasticity, because it is capable of adapting to the most diverse soil and climate conditions. Its nutritional value and high biomass yields make it an important plant genetic resource in production systems. It is also a plant which can be used as living fence, windbreak, green manure and for ethanol and gum production, etc.; hence it is an interesting species for the tropics.

Palabras clave : Agronomic characteristics; animal feeding; Moringa oleifera.

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