Nutrients demand of cactus forage

João Macedo Moreira,George Rodrigues Lambais,Aldo Torres Sales,Jucilene Silva Araújo,Aldrin P Pérez-Marin

doi:10.26848/rbgf.v13.2.p811-820

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of nutrient use in three cactus forage (CF) cultivars (Opuntia stricta and Nopalea cochenillifera), 365 days after planting under different types of fertilizer in two research sites (Condado and Riachão) of the semi-arid region of Paraiba state, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block design with treatments in a factorial scheme (3×4), three cultivars of CF (Orelha de elefante Mexicana; Miúda; Bahiana), and four fertilizer treatment (Control; Manure; Manure with Nitrogen; Mineral fertilization) with four replications. The CF cultivars did not differ significantly in nutrient use. That means of physio-logical efficiency by CF cultivars were 1.62, and 2.36 kg of biomass per kg of nutrient applied in Condado and Riachão, respectively. The efficiency of nutrient recovery was 16% for the Condado, according the following order: K> P> Ca> N> C = Mg and 12% for Riachão: K> P> N> C = Ca = Mg. In the two research sites, the treatment with mineral fertilization significantly increased the efficiency use of N, P and K in comparison to the other treatments. The average for efficiency of nutrient utilization was 25% and 19% for Condado and Riachão, respectively, in the following order for Condado: K> P> N> Ca = Mg> C, and Riachão: K> P> N> C> Mg = Ca. In a CF production system aiming to obtain a yearly harvest cycle, it is necessary to replenish of K and P to maintain the nutritional balance between the soil and CF plant.

Highlights

Livestock production chains are one of the major social-economic activities in the semi-arid region of Brazil
Concentration of nutrients- The concentration of N, C, and P were statistically different in the cactus forage for the research site of Condado (Table 3)
The concentration of C in the cactus forage cultivars decreased in the following order Miúda > Orelha de elefante > Bahiana

Summary

Introduction

Livestock production chains are one of the major social-economic activities in the semi-arid region of Brazil. Most of the semi-arid region Brazil has a rainfall pattern marked by 4 to 5 months (350 – 750 mm) while the remaining months of the year are dry with high evapotranspiration (< 210 mm year-1). Such climatic pattern shortens the option of forage resources to be cultivated in this area. The cactus forage is one of the most successful food sources for the livestock of Brazil, mainly in the semiarid

Objectives

Results

Conclusion