Potential Use of Hydrogel from Natural Fiber in the Initial Growth of Nopalea Cochenillifera Under Water Stress: Water Source of Slow Release

Abstract

ABSTRACT The growth characteristics and chemical composition of Nopalea cochenillifera under water stress were evaluated, comparing the use of hydrogel based on natural fiber of Orbignya phalerata, to the commercial hydrogel based on polyacrylamide and under different levels of the test hydrogel. Two trials were performed, adopting a completely randomized design with six replications. In the first trial, the treatments were three forms of soil hydration: no hydrogel – NH, commercial hydrogel – CH and test hydrogel – TH. While in the second trial, the treatments were levels of 0, 7.5, 15, 30 and 90 kg ha−1 of TH. In the first trial, significant effect (p < .05) was observed on the number of cladodes, cladode area, plant height, cladode dry biomass (CDB), root dry biomass (RDB), dry matter content (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). In the second trial, significant effect (p < .05) was observed on the number of cladodes, cladode area, plant height, CDB and RDB, according to the increase in the level of TH in the initial growth of cactus pear. Regarding the chemical composition of the cactus pear grown with different levels of TH, an effect was found (p < .05) on dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber. The use of hydrogel provides greater growth and better chemical composition of the cactus pear Nopalea cochenillifera, in its initial growth, with the hydrogel based on natural fiber of Orbignya phalerata being the best economically and environmentally option, upto a level of 30 kg ha−1.