Moringa: A hidden treasure in the heart of stone

Moringa is one of the semi-tropical vegetation elements, distributed in the Sahara Sindian region, near the Dead Sea, Red Sea, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Iran, and Pakistan. Moringa distribution in Iran is limited to the mountainous areas of Hormozgan and Baluchestan in Iran. Moringa is a chasmophyte species, growing well on fractured sandstone, shale, and schist. It grows in a warm and dry climate with no frozen period, a mean annual rainfall of 180-200 mm, a mean annual temperature of 26-27ºC, and a mean annual evapotranspiration of 3448 mm. The soil of habitat varies from shallow to very deep with different soil textures, a pH of 7.85 to 8.3, an electric conductivity of 1.36 to 4.5 ds/m, and no salinity limitation. This tree plays a key role in the local economy due to the various values including conservation, wildlife habitat, feed and fuel, beekeeping, nuts, edible oil, and medicinal and industrial uses. The seeds containing 53.9% oil, are traded at a price of $100/kg in the global market. The species is highly resistant to drought stress and able to adapt and expand in the Sahara Sindian region with minimal water requirements. Direct seeding and seedling methods using water storage systems like contour trenching, crop residues, and polyethylene sheets could be used for Moringa habitat restoration in the southeastern Iran.