Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical attributes of the soil cultivated with ‘Gigante’ cactus pear under different doses of organic fertilizer, planting spacings and sampling times. Four doses of organic fertilizer with bovine manure (0, 30, 60 and 90 Mg ha-1 year-1), three spacings (1.0 x 0.5, 2.0 x 0.25 and 3.0 x 1.0 x 0.25 m) and three sampling times (0, 390 and 600 days after planting) corresponding to the periods prior to planting, growth and harvest of the first cycle, were evaluated in a randomized block design in a 4 x 3 x 3 factorial scheme, with three repetitions. The pH in water, macronutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg), micronutrients (B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn), variables of the soil sorption complex (H + Al, SB, CEC, T, V) and soil organic matter (SOM) were determined. Organic fertilization increased the values of SOM, P, K, Ca, Mg, SB, CEC, T and V and reduced H + Al in soils cultivated with ‘Gigante’ cactus pear at different times. The doses of manure increased pH and Mn, regardless of sampling time and spacing. The spacings did not influence the chemical attributes of the soil.
Highlights
Cactus pear (Opuntia sp.) is a plant widely spread in the Brazilian semiarid region but, depending on the intensity of the cut at harvest (Lima et al, 2016), the entire aerial part of the plant is served as fodder, which means that most nutrients extracted from the soil during the crop cycle are exported from the cultivated area (Donato et al, 2017a), which may lead to soil impoverishment
There is a lack of specific information on changes in soil chemical attributes in the cactus pear agro-system cultivated with organic fertilization under semiarid conditions, in order to establish a criterion of nutrient balance in the soil that ensures the sustainability of the system
The values of soil organic matter (SOM), P, K, Ca, Mg, H + Al, sum of bases (SB), cation exchange capacity (CEC), T and V of the soils cultivated with ‘Gigante’ cactus pear under organic fertilization at different spacings varied with the interaction (p ≤ 0.05) between fertilization and sampling time
Summary
Cactus pear (Opuntia sp.) is a plant widely spread in the Brazilian semiarid region but, depending on the intensity of the cut at harvest (Lima et al, 2016), the entire aerial part of the plant is served as fodder, which means that most nutrients extracted from the soil during the crop cycle are exported from the cultivated area (Donato et al, 2017a), which may lead to soil impoverishment.Changes in the planting spacing of cactus pear (Cavalcante et al, 2014), in population density (Silva et al, 2014), in doses of organic fertilization (Donato et al, 2014a, b), organomineral fertilization (Padilha Junior et al, 2016) or chemical fertilization (Silva et al, 2016b) may interfere with vegetative growth (Donato et al, 2014a; Silva et al, 2016b), nutrient extraction (Silva et al, 2016a; Donato et al, 2017a), nutritional status of the plant (Blanco-Macías et al, 2010; Silva et al, 2012; Donato et al, 2016), nutritional value of forage (Silva et al, 2013; Donato et al, 2014b), light interception, growth and dry matter yield.Increments in the doses of bovine manure applied to the soil promote greater extraction of nutrients by cactus pear (Donato et al, 2017a), improves the performance of structural characteristics (Donato et al, 2014b), increases the concentrations of phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and sulfur in the cladodes (Donato et al, 2016) and improves the nutritional value and dry matter yield (Donato et al, 2014a).There is a lack of specific information on changes in soil chemical attributes in the cactus pear agro-system cultivated with organic fertilization under semiarid conditions, in order to establish a criterion of nutrient balance in the soil that ensures the sustainability of the system. Changes in the planting spacing of cactus pear (Cavalcante et al, 2014), in population density (Silva et al, 2014), in doses of organic fertilization (Donato et al, 2014a, b), organomineral fertilization (Padilha Junior et al, 2016) or chemical fertilization (Silva et al, 2016b) may interfere with vegetative growth (Donato et al, 2014a; Silva et al, 2016b), nutrient extraction (Silva et al, 2016a; Donato et al, 2017a), nutritional status of the plant (Blanco-Macías et al, 2010; Silva et al, 2012; Donato et al, 2016), nutritional value of forage (Silva et al, 2013; Donato et al, 2014b), light interception, growth and dry matter yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical attributes of a soil cultivated with ‘Gigante’ cactus pear under different doses of organic fertilization, planting spacings and sampling times
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