Supplemental irrigation to save water while growing cactus pear in semi‐arid regions †

Trenched beds covered with plastic mulch was used to capture and retain precipitation for dryland cantaloupe production. Two trenches were formed in the fall in raised beds. Plastic mulch was laid over the beds and slitted at ca. 1 meter intervals over the trenches. Soil was placed over the slits, conforming the plastic to the shape of the trenches and channeling precipitation into the beds. Cantaloupes were seeded in the spring and grown with no supplemental irrigation. Planting moisture was significantly greater under the capture system than in unmulched beds. Seedling emergence time was reduced from 18 to 6 days and vine growth in the first 6 weeks was almost doubled. Total and marketable yields were doubled and fruit size significantly increased when water was limiting. Elevated soil temperatures under the mulch enhanced plant growth and yield even when moisture was not limiting. Combining a moisture capture system with supplemental irrigation could allow commercial production of cucurbit crops under limited water conditions in semi-arid areas.

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Yield of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated under biofertilizer doses and application intervals

Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental ◽

10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v25n9p633-640 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (9) ◽

pp. 633-640

Author(s):

Varley A. Fonseca ◽

Carlindo S. Rodrigues ◽

Rodrigo R. Alvarenga ◽

Delfran B. dos Santos ◽

Felizarda V. Bebé ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Experimental Design ◽

Plant Height ◽

Arid Regions ◽

Morphometric Characteristics ◽

Water Restriction ◽

Cactus Pear ◽

Area Index ◽

Dry Biomass ◽

Biomass Yields ◽

Semi Arid

ABSTRACT Due to the water restriction, associated with the high cost of fertilizers, and the need to produce forage in the semi-arid regions, studies using biofertilizers in cactus pear production tend to become impactful. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphometric characteristics and yield of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated under doses and application intervals of bovine manure biofertilizer. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme, with two biofertilizer application intervals (14 and 21 days) and five biofertilizer doses (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 m3 ha-1). Three replicates were used, totaling 30 experimental units. The following variables were evaluated: plant height, number of cladodes, cladode length, cladode width and cladode area index, dry biomass percentage, and green and dry biomass yields. The use of 60 m3 ha-1 of liquid cattle manure biofertilizer increased the yield of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear. The application of 60 m3 ha-1 of biofertilizer at the interval of 14 days increased the yield of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear.

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Genotype × environmental interactions of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) in the semi-arid regions of South Africa: fruit production

Acta Horticulturae ◽

10.17660/actahortic.2019.1247.5 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 31-40

Author(s):

G.M. Coetzer ◽

H.J. Fouché ◽

M.F. Smith

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Arid Regions ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Cactus Pear ◽

Opuntia Ficus Indica ◽

Environmental Interactions ◽

Semi Arid

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EFFECTS OF PLANTING DENSITYAND ORGANIC FERTILIZATION DOSES ON PRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY OF CACTUS PEAR

Revista Caatinga ◽

10.1590/1983-21252016v29n423rc ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 976-983 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

NALÍGIA GOMES DE MIRANDA E SILVA ◽

MÉRCIA VIRGINIA FERREIRA DOS SANTOS ◽

JOSÉ CARLOS BATISTA DUBEUX JÚNIOR ◽

MÁRCIO VIEIRA DA CUNHA ◽

MÁRIO DE ANDRADE LIRA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arid Regions ◽

Plant Density ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Productive Efficiency ◽

Planting Density ◽

Organic Fertilization ◽

Cactus Pear ◽

High Productivity ◽

Experimental Station ◽

Semi Arid

ABSTRACT Cactus is crucial for the livestock of semi-arid regions in Brazil. This plant has shown the high productivity of forage, which is influenced by several management factors. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of organic fertilization doses (20, 40 and 80 t/ ha of bovine manure/ha/two years) and planting densities (20, 40, 80 and 160 thousand plants/ha) on the productivity of cactus pear Clone IPA-20 (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill). At the Experimental Station of Caruaru at the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco, IPA has conducted the experiment. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with split plot arrangements. Higher shoot productivity was observed with increased population density and the application of manure at 80 t ha-1 two years-1 with values of 61, 90, 117 and 139 t DM ha-1 two years-1 at densities of 20, 40, 80 and 160,000 plants ha-1. The planting density influenced the productivity of cladode-plant and root dry weight, showing exponential responses, with higher cladode-plant and roots weight by area observed with increased plant density. The efficiency of organic fertilization decreased with the increase in manure doses. For increase cactus productivity, 40 t of bovine manure ha-1 two years-1 for plantations with 160,000 plants/ha is recommended.

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