Abstract

Morama bean (Tylosema esculentum) is found wild in the Kgalagadi sands of Botswana, Namibia and some parts of South Africa. Morama plants were cultivated at Botswana College of Agriculture (BCA) in 2001 in a sandy loam soil which are producing seeds. The nutritional value of seed from a sandy loam soil (BCA) was compared to that of wild plants growing in a sandy soil and collected from Letlhakane in northern central region of Botswana. The effect of seed size on the nutritional value was also assessed. The results showed that ash, protein and potassium (K) contents were low by 12%, 9%, and 20%, respectively, for seeds from a sandy soil compared to those from a sandy loam soil. Calcium concentration was 40% high for seed from a sandy soil compared to a sandy loam soil. Phosphorus was not significantly affected by the soil type. Seed size significantly (P<0.05) affected fibre, ash, P, Ca and K contents while moisture, fat and protein were not affected. Soil chemical properties and seed size influenced the nutritional value of morama bean seed. Phosphorus, calcium and potassium fertilizer application to poor soils will improve nutritional value of morama bean seed.

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