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Technical Kisanखेती, तकनीक के साथ
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Moringa (Drumstick)All seasonsSeed-propagated annual varietyUpdated 30 August 2026

PKM 1

The variety that made annual, seed-propagated moringa a mainstream commercial crop across South India — still one of the most widely planted types.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity periodFirst pod harvest around 6 months after planting; annual cropping
Expected yieldAbout 200–230 pods per tree per year under normal spacing (2.5 m × 2.5 m)
Suitable soilWell-drained sandy loam to loam

Quick facts

Crop
Moringa (Drumstick)
Type
Seed-propagated annual variety
Season
All seasons
Maturity period
First pod harvest around 6 months after planting; annual cropping
Seed rate
About 2–3 kg/ha for direct seeding (2–3 seeds per pit, thinned to the strongest seedling)
Expected yield
About 200–230 pods per tree per year under normal spacing (2.5 m × 2.5 m)
Suitable soil
Well-drained sandy loam to loam
Release
Released by HC&RI, Periyakulam · Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)

About this variety

PKM 1 was released by the Horticultural College and Research Institute (HC&RI), Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, through pure-line selection. It was the variety that established annual, seed-propagated moringa as a commercial vegetable crop across South India, replacing the older practice of growing moringa as a long-lived, wide-spaced perennial tree from cuttings. It bears its first pod crop around six months after planting and is grown as an annual, seed-raised crop rather than a multi-year tree.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeSeed-propagated annual variety
    MaturityFirst pod harvest around 6 months after planting; annual cropping
    Yield potentialAbout 200–230 pods per tree per year under normal spacing (2.5 m × 2.5 m)
    Disease resistanceNo major disease resistance specifically documented; the variety's main advantage is establishing annual, seed-propagated moringa as a reliable commercial crop
    SoilWell-drained sandy loam to loam
    SeasonAll seasons

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeJune–July (monsoon, rainfed) or February–March (irrigated)
  • Seed rateAbout 2–3 kg/ha for direct seeding (2–3 seeds per pit, thinned to the strongest seedling)
  • Spacing2.5 m × 2.5 m for standard commercial pod production
  • Sowing methodDirect seeding at the final site is preferred; the taproot resents transplant disturbance
  • IrrigationRegular light watering through the first 2–3 months of establishment, then reduced once the tree is established; steady moisture at flowering and pod set improves pod number and size
  • FertilizerFarmyard manure at planting plus a modest, twice-yearly split N:P:K dose (around 40:25:25 kg/ha) — the zone-standard low dose for moringa, not adjusted specifically for this variety
  • HarvestingFirst pod harvest around 6 months after planting; pick pods tender, 55–70 days after flowering, well before the seed inside hardens

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Well-drained sandy loam to loam — the standard recommendation for commercial moringa
Irrigation
Excellent drainage is essential — the taproot cannot survive standing water, the main soil risk for this variety as for the crop generally

Climate

Climate
Thrives in hot, dry conditions once established; the main climate risk is prolonged waterlogging during heavy monsoon spells, not heat or dry weather

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

First pod harvest around 6 months after planting; annual cropping

Expected yield

About 200–230 pods per tree per year under normal spacing (2.5 m × 2.5 m)

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Management notes

  • Prune/pinch the main shoot at 75–100 cm a few months after planting to force branching — an unpruned PKM 1 grows tall and single-stemmed with far fewer pods.
  • A boron foliar spray at flowering reduces flower and young-pod drop, the single biggest yield leak in this variety as in moringa generally.

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Tamil Nadu
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Karnataka
  • Maharashtra
  • Odisha