Moringa’s leaves, flowers, bark, wood and roots are used worldwide for a large variety of medicinal purposes. But there are also many other uses for the tree. Among these:
2. Alley cropping : With their rapid growth, long taproot, few lateral roots, minimal shade and large production of high-protein biomass, Moringa trees are well-suited for use in alley cropping systems.
3. Biogas : Moringa leave
s provide an excellent material for production of biogas.
4. Dye : The wood yields a blue dye which was used in Jamaica and in Senegal.
5. Fencing : A common use of Moringa trees is as a living support for fencing around gardens and yards.
6. Foliar nutrient : Juice extracted from the leaves can be used to make a foliar nutrient capable of increasing crop yields by up to 30%.
7. Green Manure : Cultivated intensively and then ploughed back into the soil, Manure can act as a natural fertilizer for other crops.
8. Gum : The gum produced from a cut tree trunk has been used in calico printing, in making medicines and as a bland-tasting condiment.
9. Honey clarifier : Powdered seeds can be used to clarify honey without boiling. Seed powder can also be used to clarify sugar cane juice.
10. Honey producer : Flowers are a good source of nectar for honey-producing bees.
11. Livestock feed : The high bioavailability of Moringa leaves and stems make them an excellent feed for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and rabbits.
12. Oil : The seed kernels contain about 40% edible oil, similar in quality to olive oil.
13. Ornamental : In many countries, Moringa trees are planted in gardens and along avenues as ornamental trees.
14. Plant disease prevention : Incorporating Moringa leaves into the soil before planting can prevent damping off disease (Pythium debaryanum) among seedlings.
15. Pulp : The soft, spongy wood makes poor firewood, but the wood pulp is highly suitable for making newsprint and writing paper.
16. Rope making : The bark of the tree can be beaten into a fiber for production of ropes or mats.
17. Tannin : The bark and gum can be used in tanning hides.
18. Water purification : Powdered seed kernels act as a natural flocculent, able to clarify even the most turbid water.