Forage biomass and water storage of cactus pear under different managements in semi-arid conditions

ABSTRACT

Forage biomass production and water storage (WS) was evaluated in cactus pear cv. Gigante fertilized with combinations of nitrogen (10, 70, 100, 130, and 190 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ N) and phosphorus (10, 70, 100, 130, and 190 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ P₂O₅) in annual (AH) and biennial (BH) harvest frequencies, in Quixadá and Tejuçuoca, Brazil. A randomized complete block design was used in a split-plot arrangement with four replications. In Quixadá, the maximum total forage biomass (TFB) recorded in the AH was 3,522.9 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for the N/P₂O₅ combination of 134.6/190.0 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, and in the BH, the maximum TFB of 1,583.2 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ was recorded for the N/P₂O₅ combination of 114.6/136.8 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. In Tejuçuoca, the maximum TFB recorded in the AH was 9,783.0 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for the N/P₂O₅ combination of 137.7/190.0 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, and in the BH, the maximum TFB of 12,124.0 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ was recorded for the N/P₂O₅ combination of 190.0/56.8 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. In Quixadá, the maximum WS recorded in the AH was 39.1 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ for the N/P₂O₅ combination of 161.0/190.0 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, and in the BH, the maximum WS of 11.3 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ was recorded for the N/P₂O₅ combination of 113.5/158.7 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. In Tejuçuoca, the maximum WS recorded in the AH was 196.1 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ for the N/P₂O₅ combination of 190.0/190.0 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, and in the BH, the maximum WS of 265.5 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ was recorded for the N/P₂O₅ combination of 190.0/10.0 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. To achieve the persistence and longevity of the cactus pear cv. Gigante, the management with BH and fertilization with the N/P₂O₅ combination of 114.6/136.8 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (in regions similar to Quixadá) and N/P₂O₅ combination of 190.0/56.8 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (in regions similar to Tejuçuoca) is recommended.

harvest frequency; nutrient management; Opuntia ficus-indica; water accumulation