Hostname: page-component-68c7f8b79f-fnvtc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-12-31T07:30:27.680Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français
Accepted manuscript

Management strategies in a semiarid environment for forage cactus cultivation to balance growth, development, forage productivity and indicators of water efficiency and economics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2025

Gabriel I. N. da Silva Open the ORCID record for Gabriel I. N. da Silva [Opens in a new window] ,
Agda R. M dos Santos ,
Marcelo J. da Silva ,
George do N. Araújo Júnior ,
Alexandre M. da R. F. Jardim ,
José E. F. de Morais ,
Carlos A. A. de Souza ,
Antonio J. Steidle Neto Open the ORCID record for Antonio J. Steidle Neto [Opens in a new window] ,
Luciana S. B. de Souza  and
José R. I. Silva
...Show all authors
Gabriel I. N. da Silva*
Affiliation:
Departament of Agricultural Engineering, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Avenue, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
Agda R. M dos Santos
Affiliation:
Departament of Agricultural Engineering, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Avenue, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
Marcelo J. da Silva
Affiliation:
Departament of Agricultural Engineering, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Avenue, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
George do N. Araújo Júnior
Affiliation:
Departament of gronomy, Federal University of Alagoas – UFAL, Br-104, Rio Largo 57100-000, Alagos, Brazil
Alexandre M. da R. F. Jardim
Affiliation:
Department of Biodiversity, Institute of Bioscience, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Av. 24A, 1515, Rio Claro 13506-900, São Paulo, Brazil
José E. F. de Morais
Affiliation:
Departament of Agricultural Engineering, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Avenue, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
Carlos A. A. de Souza
Affiliation:
Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Gregório Ferraz Nogueira Avenue, s/n, Serra Talhada 56909-535, Pernambuco, Brazil
Antonio J. Steidle Neto
Affiliation:
Departament of Agronomy; Federal University of São João del-Rei, Campus Sete Lagoas, Sete Lagoas 35707-970, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Luciana S. B. de Souza
Affiliation:
Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Gregório Ferraz Nogueira Avenue, s/n, Serra Talhada 56909-535, Pernambuco, Brazil
José R. I. Silva
Affiliation:
Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Gregório Ferraz Nogueira Avenue, s/n, Serra Talhada 56909-535, Pernambuco, Brazil
Ana V. M. Silveira
Affiliation:
Departament of Agricultural Engineering, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Avenue, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
Abelardo A. de A. Montenegro
Affiliation:
Departament of Agricultural Engineering, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Avenue, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
Thieres G. F. da Silva
Affiliation:
Departament of Agricultural Engineering, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Avenue, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Gregório Ferraz Nogueira Avenue, s/n, Serra Talhada 56909-535, Pernambuco, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Gabriel I. N. da Silva, Email: Gabriel.italo@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Different cutting intervals can influence crop development. Therefore, knowledge of the interaction between growth factors and soil-plant-atmosphere conditions can contribute to the efficient cultivation of forage cactus. The objective of this study was to evaluate morphophysiological characteristics, production, and water and economic indicators in forage cactus clones subjected to different cutting interval. The study was conducted in Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, in a 3x4 factorial arrangement, with three forage cactus clones (‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana, OEM’ – Opuntia stricta; ‘Miúda’ and ‘IPA Sertânia’ – Nopalea cochenillifera) and four cutting intervals (6, 9, 12+6 and 18 months) in randomized blocks, with four replications. Biometric and productive measurements were performed to determine the phenophases and cutting times. The components of the soil water balance (SWB) were considered at a depth of 0.60 m and the indicators were analysed. The Absolute Growth Rate - AGR and Relative Growth Rate - RGR were higher for the OEM clone at a interval of 18 months. The highest productions of fresh mass (FM) (286.4 Mg/ha) and dry matter (DM) (21.4 Mg/ha) occurred in the OEM clone regardless of the cutting interval. The MIU clone presented three phenophases. The water use efficiency indicator (*WUEc, 1.5 kg/m3) and crop water productivity (*WPc, 1.3 kg/m3) were improved in treatments with the OEM clone, as well as the gross economic productivity of water via irrigation (PBEAi, 2.98 US$/m3). It is recommended to cultivate the OEM clone of forage cactus, regardless of the cutting interval, to provide greater productivity and economic benefits.

Keywords

Absolute growth rateCutting intervalDry matter productionPhenophaseRelative growth rate

Information

Type
Crops and Soils Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Accepted manuscript , pp. 1 - 50
Copyright
The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable