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

Sunil Kumar,Prabhu Govindasamy,Mounir Louhaichi,Arvind Kumar Rai,Shahid Ahmad,Sawsan Hassan,Giorgia Liguori,Mahendra Prasad,Ashutosh Sarker,Sonu Kumar Mahawer,Palsaniya Dana Ram,Kiran Kumar Tirumala,Bhargavi Hulgathur Appaswamygowda,Ghosh Probir Kumar

doi:10.3390/agronomy11081647

Abstract

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.

Highlights

Drylands cover 41.3% of the Earth’s land surface [1]
The aim of this study was to explore the effects of planting time and agronomic practices on cactus pear growth and development in a semi-arid region of India
Agronomic practices influenced some of the biometric characteristics, such as plant width, cladode length and cladode width, but not important agronomic features, such as plant height, cladode number, cladode weight and biomass yield

Summary

Introduction

Drylands (arid, semi-arid and dry subhumid) cover 41.3% of the Earth’s land surface [1]. 44% of farming land is in drylands and supports nearly one billion people and 50% of the world’s livestock and wildlife [1]. Semi-arid regions alone cover approximately 15% of the dryland area and support 14.4% of the world’s population [2]. Semi-arid regions receive 200–700 mm of average annual precipitation and have an aridity index of 0.20–0.50 [3,4]. Farming practices in such ecosystems are extremely vulnerable to precarious climate [5], land degradation [6], marginal land [7] and desertification [1]. Desertification and degradation alone result in a USD 42 billion annual loss of revenue in these regions

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion