Influence of Moringa Seed Cake and Vermicompost on Soil Microbial Activity, Growth, and Productivity of ‘Anna’ Apple Trees

Field experiments were carried out during the 2020 and 2021 seasons to study the effect of two organic fertilizers with moringa seed cake (MC) and vermicompost (VC) either alone or mixed at different rates on soil microbial activity, growth, leaf mineral content, fruit set, yield, and fruit quality of ‘Anna’ (Malus domestica, Borkh) apple trees. Six treatments included: (T1) control (farmyard manure), (T2) 100% MC, (T3) 100% VC, (T4) 50% MC + 50%VC, (T5) 25% MC + 75%VC and (T6) 75% MC + VC 25%. A comprehensive evaluation indicated that moringa seed cake and vermicompost together as organic fertilization had the potential to improve the total microbial enzyme activity, total count of soil bacteria and fungi, growth, leaf chlorophyll and minerals content, fruit set, yield, and fruit quality compared to fertilization using farmyard manure. In particular, applying moringa seed cake in combination with vermicompost at 50:50% (T4) was more effective than the other treatments. The work concluded that moringa seed cake and vermicompost have a significant positive effect on productivity and are suitable for sustainable cultivation in ‘Anna’ apple orchards as organic soil amendments.