Articles
Effect of spacing, soil, and planting direction on the vegetative growth of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear
Article number
1343_22
Pages
155 – 162
Language
English
Abstract
Several management factors can influence the productivity of cactus pear.
Thus, knowledge of the interaction between the main growth factors can contribute to a more efficient cultivation of cactus pear.
In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of spacing, type of soil, and planting direction on the growth of the ‘Gigante’ cactus pear.
The interaction between type of soil (clay and sandy loam), spacing (1.0×0.25 m and 1.8×0.1 m) and planting direction (largest side of the cladode in the north/south or east/west direction) was tested in a completely randomized design.
The number of plants m‑1 was higher in the combinations with higher planting density (1.8×0.1 m; 55,550 plants ha‑1). The combinations with clayey soil favored cactus pear growth indices, such as: number of total cladodes, total thickness, height, elongation rates and enlargement of primary cladodes, primary cladode expansion rate and total cladode expansion rate.
The forage dry mass production was higher in the combinations with clayey soil and east/west planting direction, mean of 9,751.80 kg ha‑1. The behavior of the cladode position changed in the north/south planting direction, with a higher proportion of secondary and tertiary cladodes in the perpendicular (40.48%) and diagonal (48.97%) position, respectively.
The best growth of cactus pear is obtained in clayey soil, on the east/west planting direction, regardless of spacing.
Thus, knowledge of the interaction between the main growth factors can contribute to a more efficient cultivation of cactus pear.
In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of spacing, type of soil, and planting direction on the growth of the ‘Gigante’ cactus pear.
The interaction between type of soil (clay and sandy loam), spacing (1.0×0.25 m and 1.8×0.1 m) and planting direction (largest side of the cladode in the north/south or east/west direction) was tested in a completely randomized design.
The number of plants m‑1 was higher in the combinations with higher planting density (1.8×0.1 m; 55,550 plants ha‑1). The combinations with clayey soil favored cactus pear growth indices, such as: number of total cladodes, total thickness, height, elongation rates and enlargement of primary cladodes, primary cladode expansion rate and total cladode expansion rate.
The forage dry mass production was higher in the combinations with clayey soil and east/west planting direction, mean of 9,751.80 kg ha‑1. The behavior of the cladode position changed in the north/south planting direction, with a higher proportion of secondary and tertiary cladodes in the perpendicular (40.48%) and diagonal (48.97%) position, respectively.
The best growth of cactus pear is obtained in clayey soil, on the east/west planting direction, regardless of spacing.
Publication
Authors
G.M.F. Gomes, M.N. Lopes, R.G. Silva, L.T. Beserra, M.J.D. Cândido
Keywords
cactus, cladode, forage production, management, morphogenesis
Groups involved
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