Abstract
ABSTRACT Microirrigation associated with nitrogen (N) fertilization aims to meet the water and nutritional demands of cactus pear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and yield of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) irrigated by microirrigation and fertilized with N. The experiment was conducted in the field at the Poço Redondo farm, Santa Luzia, PB, Brazil (6° 52’ 27’’ S and 36º 56’ 0’’ W and altitude of 299 m), between April and December 2017. The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme, with five irrigation frequencies (7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days) and two types of fertilization (soil fertilized with N and not fertilized) in the cultivar ‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’, with three replicates. Different irrigation frequencies promote reduction in green biomass yield and increase in the economic water productivity when using of the cladode for propagative material. Nitrogen fertilization increased growth, green biomass yield, water productivity and economic water productivity. The greatest economic return is obtained by producing cladodes marketed for propagative material. Reducing the frequency of irrigation promotes greater water saving, increasing the irrigated area and production by using less water at high frequency.
Highlights
The search for more efficient irrigation has become a routine for researchers and irrigators
Different irrigation frequencies promote reduction in green biomass yield and increase in the economic water productivity when using of the cladode for propagative material
The greatest economic return is obtained by producing cladodes marketed for propagative material
Summary
The search for more efficient irrigation has become a routine for researchers and irrigators. Among the methods that most add technology, microirrigation stands out with micro-sprinkler and drip irrigation systems, in which water is conducted through pipes up to the point of application by emitters installed along a pipe parallel to the plant row. For Frizzone et al (2012), microirrigation is characterized by applying water at low flow rate, for a relatively long time and with high frequency. The growth and yield of cactus pear vary with rainfall levels and soil fertility. Cunha et al (2012) state that the soils of the northeastern semi-arid region have low levels of organic matter and low nitrogen (N) availability for plants. Using external N sources is essential to increase the biomass production of cactus pear
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