Resilience of cactus pear genotypes in a tropical semi-arid region subject to climatic cultivation restriction

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the photochemical efficiency of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated under different spacings and bovine manure doses in the semi-arid region. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design in a 4 x 3 x 7 factorial scheme, with three replicates. The first factor consisted of four doses of organic fertilization (0, 30, 60 and 90 Mg ha-1 year-1 of bovine manure), the second one, of three spacings (1.0 x 0.5, 2.0 x 0.25 and 3.0 x 1.0 x 0.25 m) and the third one of seven reading times (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 h). Chlorophyll a fluorescence readings were taken in cactus pear cladodes in the dry and rainy seasons using a pulse-modulated fluorometer. Cladodes of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated under different spacings and bovine manure doses undergo changes in photosystem II during the dry season under the physiographic conditions of the semi-arid region in Bahia. During the rainy season in the semi-arid region, the photosynthetic yield in cactus pear cladodes is considered ideal.

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Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Productivity, Proximal Composition and Soil Parameters as Affected by Planting Time and Agronomic Management in a Semi-Arid Region of India

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11081647 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 1647

Author(s):

Sunil Kumar ◽

Mounir Louhaichi ◽

Palsaniya Dana Ram ◽

Kiran Kumar Tirumala ◽

Shahid Ahmad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arid Region ◽

Management Practices ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Cactus Pear ◽

Opuntia Ficus Indica ◽

Planting Time ◽

Agronomic Management ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

Study of appropriate planting time and response to agronomic management practices is imperative for the newly introduced cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) into a semi-arid region of India. Responses of cactus pear to agronomic practices (planting time, and irrigation and fertilizer application) were evaluated to determine the potential for fodder production and livestock feed in a semi-arid environment of India. We assessed four planting times (February, March, July, and October) and two agronomic managements (with and without irrigation and fertilizer application) during 2016–2020 at Jhansi, India. Cactus pear establishment and growth improved with planting time in July and October due to favorable soil moisture and congenial temperature. However, plant height (19 cm) and cladode weight (118 g) were greater in July than in October planting. Nutrient uptake and crude protein contents, however, were higher for the earlier plantings of February and April compared to June and October. Irrigation and nutrients application had little effect on the cactus pear plant growth, except on plant width and cladode length and width. Cactus pear can be planted during July in moderately fertile soils without any agronomic intervention in semi-arid situations of India and has potential as an effective alternative source of forage for livestock during the summer months.

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Sistemas Tradicionais de Produção de Palma Forrageira ‘Gigante’ em Agroecossistemas do Semiárido Baiano

Revista Brasileira de Geografia Física ◽

10.26848/rbgf.v14.2.p554-590 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 554

Author(s):

Laudiceio Viana Matos ◽

Sérgio Luiz Rodrigues Donato ◽

Marcos Koiti Kondo ◽

João Luiz Lani

Keyword(s):

Mass Production ◽

Arid Region ◽

Management Practices ◽

Production Systems ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Cactus Pear ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

A produtividade e a qualidade nutricional da palma forrageira são afetadas pelas inter-relações entre as características edafoclimáticas do ambiente de cultivo, com as práticas de manejo e o potencial genético da planta. Ao articular a caracterização dos solos dos agroecossistemas, o detalhamento dos sistemas de produção de palma forrageira, mais o levantamento dos atributos estruturais e rendimento das plantas, com a qualidade do cladódio para uso como forragem, espera-se estabelecer a melhor relação planta-ambiente-homem. Assim, é possível identificar e/ou desenvolver tecnologias viáveis e apropriadas para a otimização da produção da palma forrageira em quantidade e qualidade, com práticas condizentes às especificidades locais. Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho realizar a caracterização dos sistemas tradicionais de produção de palma forrageira e inter-relacioná-la com os rendimentos das plantas e composição mineral e bromatológica dos cladódios em cinco agroecossistemas do semiárido baiano. Constatou-se que as características dos agroecossistemas afetaram mais o comprimento e largura dos cladódios, a matéria orgânica e o material mineral na planta. Os sistemas de produção estabelecidos afetaram, maiormente, a produção de massa de cladódios por planta, a produtividade de massa verde, a área total de cladódios, o número de cladódios produzidos por planta, teores de matéria seca, teores de nitrogênio, proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro. Os componentes mais afetados pelo efeito da planta (genótipo) foram os teores de gordura ou extrato etéreo na planta, a capacidade de produção de massa por cladódio e os teores de fibra em detergente neutro nos tecidos dos cladódios. Espera-se disponibilizar as informações geradas de forma mais acessível e possível de serem incorporadas aos sistemas de produção de palma forrageira na perspectiva de torná-los mais sustentáveis.Palavras-chave: Opuntia, ambiente, conhecimento local, qualidade da forragem, rendimento, manejo. Traditional systems of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear production in agroecosystems of Bahia semi-arid region A B S T R A C TThe productivity and nutritional quality of the cactus pear are affected by the interrelationships between the edaphoclimatic characteristics of the cultivation environment, with the management practices and the genetic potential of the plant. By articulating the characterization of agroecosystem soils, detailing the production systems of cactus pear, plus the survey of structural attributes and plant yield, with the quality of the cladodes for use as forage, it is expected to establish the best plant-environment-man relationship. Thus, it is possible to identify and / or develop viable and appropriate technologies to optimize the production of cactus pear in quantity and quality, with practices consistent with local specificities. The objective of the present work was to characterize the traditional systems of production of cactus pear and to interrelate it with plant yields and mineral and chemical composition of the cladodes in five agroecosystems in the semi-arid region of Bahia, Brazil. It was found that the characteristics of agroecosystems most affected the length and width of the cladodes, the organic matter and the mineral material in the plant. The established production systems most affected the mass production of cladodes per plant, the productivity of green mass, the total area of cladodes, the number of cladodes produced per plant, dry matter content, nitrogen content, crude protein and fiber in neutral detergent. The components most affected by the effect of the plant (genotype) were the levels of fat or ether extract in the plant, the capacity for mass production by cladode and the levels of neutral detergent fiber in the tissues of the cladodes. It is hoped that the information generated will be made available in a more accessible and possible way to be incorporated into their cactus pear production systems with a view to making them more sustainable.Key words – Opuntia, environment, local knowledge, forage quality, yield, management.

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Aerosol iron solubility in a semi-arid region: temporal trend and impact of anthropogenic sources

Tellus B ◽

10.3402/tellusb.v62i2.16519 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Ashwini Kumar ◽

M. M. Sarin

Keyword(s):

Arid Region ◽

Temporal Trend ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Iron Solubility ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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The Molecular Characterization and Biological Assessment of the Leaves Extracts of Loofah Reveal their Nutraceutical Potential

Recent Patents on Food Nutrition & Agriculturee ◽

10.2174/2212798411999201110211931 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Takoua Ben Hlel ◽

Feten Belhadj ◽

Fatih Gül ◽

Muhammed Altun ◽

Ayşe Şahin Yağlıoğlu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Phenolic Compounds ◽

Hela Cell ◽

Arid Region ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Biological Assessment ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Hela Cell Lines ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

Background:: Luffa cylindrica is a plant that is widely distributed in Africa and Asia and it can be grown in regions with tropical or subtropical climates. Few patents dealt with Loofah biological properties, including some functional foods formulated from its leaves. Objective:: This study aimed to structurally and functionally characterize the bioactive compounds of L. cylindrica leaves grown in two different environments. Methods:: The extracts of L. cylindrica leaves collected from two Tunisian locations: Essouasi (LE), a semi-arid region and Medenine (LM) an arid region, were investigated for their phenolic compounds and fatty acids using HPLC/TOF-MS and GCMS techniques respectively. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity was evaluated with DPPH, Chelating effect, Hydroxyl radical and Superoxide anion scavenging activities while the anticancer activity against HeLa cell lines was assessed using xCELLigence real time cell analyzer and lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay. Results:: The antiproliferative capacity of both extracts was time and dose-dependent with LE presenting the lowest HeLa cell index (CI = 0.035 ± 0.018, 250 μg/ml). LE also showed the best cytotoxic capacity (56.49 ± 0.8%) and antioxidant potential (IC50 = 54.41 ± 1.12 μg/ml for DPPH and 12.12 ± 0.07 μg/ml for chelating effet). 14 phenolic compounds were detected in LE with ferulic acid being the major compound (5128.5 ± 4.09 μg Phenols/g) while LM had only 6 phenolics. GCMS analysis showed the presence of omega-3 fatty acids in LE. Conclusions:: Our findings suggest that L. cylindrica leaves, especially when collected from semi-arid regions, are promising for formulating nutraceuticals of interest.

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Space-time monitoring of soil organic carbon content across a semi-arid region of Australia

Geoderma Regional ◽

10.1016/j.geodrs.2021.e00367 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. e00367

Author(s):

Patrick Filippi ◽

Stephen R. Cattle ◽

Matthew J. Pringle ◽

Thomas F.A. Bishop

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Carbon Content ◽

Arid Region ◽

Space Time ◽

Organic Carbon Content ◽

Soil Organic Carbon Content ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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An investigation of the relationship between surface albedo and urban cover types in a semi-arid region

IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering ◽

10.1088/1757-899x/1067/1/012021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1067 (1) ◽

pp. 012021

Author(s):

Mustafa N Hamoodi ◽

Zainab R Mahdi

Keyword(s):

Arid Region ◽

Surface Albedo ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

The Relationship ◽

Semi Arid

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Effect of Temperature on Sowing Dates of Wheat under Arid and Semi-Arid Climatic Regions and Impact Quantification of Climate Change through Mechanistic Modeling with Evidence from Field

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12070927 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 927

Author(s):

Jamshad Hussain ◽

Tasneem Khaliq ◽

Muhammad Habib ur Rahman ◽

Asmat Ullah ◽

Ishfaq Ahmed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Arid Region ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Seasonal Temperature ◽

Sowing Dates ◽

Rcp 8.5 ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

Rising temperature from climate change is the most threatening factor worldwide for crop production. Sustainable wheat production is a challenge due to climate change and variability, which is ultimately a serious threat to food security in Pakistan. A series of field experiments were conducted during seasons 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 in the semi-arid (Faisalabad) and arid (Layyah) regions of Punjab-Pakistan. Three spring wheat genotypes were evaluated under eleven sowing dates from 16 October to 16 March, with an interval of 14–16 days in the two regions. Data for the model calibration and evaluation were collected from field experiments following the standard procedures and protocols. The grain yield under future climate scenarios was simulated by using a well-calibrated CERES-wheat model included in DSSAT v4.7. Future (2051–2100) and baseline (1980–2015) climatic data were simulated using 29 global circulation models (GCMs) under representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5. These GCMs were distributed among five quadrants of climatic conditions (Hot/Wet, Hot/Dry, Cool/Dry, Cool/Wet, and Middle) by a stretched distribution approach based on temperature and rainfall change. A maximum of ten GCMs predicted the chances of Middle climatic conditions during the second half of the century (2051–2100). The average temperature during the wheat season in a semi-arid region and arid region would increase by 3.52 °C and 3.84 °C, respectively, under Middle climatic conditions using the RCP 8.5 scenario during the second half-century. The simulated grain yield was reduced by 23.5% in the semi-arid region and 35.45% in the arid region under Middle climatic conditions (scenario). Mean seasonal temperature (MST) of sowing dates ranged from 16 to 27.3 °C, while the mean temperature from the heading to maturity (MTHM) stage was varying between 12.9 to 30.4 °C. Coefficients of determination (R2) between wheat morphology parameters and temperature were highly significant, with a range of 0.84–0.96. Impacts of temperature on wheat sown on 15 March were found to be as severe as to exterminate the crop before heading. The spikes and spikelets were not formed under a mean seasonal temperature higher than 25.5 °C. In a nutshell, elevated temperature (3–4 °C) till the end-century can reduce grain yield by about 30% in semi-arid and arid regions of Pakistan. These findings are crucial for growers and especially for policymakers to decide on sustainable wheat production for food security in the region.

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