Articles
Mineral composition of Opuntia atropes Rose at different phenological stages
Article number
1343_25
Pages
181 – 186
Language
English
Abstract
Forage cactus cladodes are mineral-rich structures and several factors can affect their composition, such as growing conditions, plant age, species and genotypes.
In this sense, the study was conducted to evaluate the mineral composition of the cladodes of Opuntia atropes Rose (genotype F-08) at different stages of phenological development.
Cladodes were collected from five plants in three stages: young (cladodes located at the distal or lateral ends of the plant, in expansion), intermediate (cladodes located in the middle part of the plant, with a rigid structure), and mature (cladodes located just above the base, fully expanded). There was no difference (P>0.05) in the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur and zinc between cladodium development stages.
Calcium was the most abundant macromineral and its contents increased as a function of cladode maturation from 67.47 (young) to 81.80 g kg‑1 DM (mature). Copper and iron concentrations were higher in young cladodes (4.65 and 119.10 mg kg‑1 DM, respectively). Lower levels of boron (39.28 mg kg‑1 DM) and manganese (41.64 mg kg‑1 DM) were observed in the mature stage.
The cladodes of O. atropes have significant amounts of minerals and can potentially meet the nutritional requirements of domestic ruminants.
Mineral concentration tends to be higher in young cladodes.
In this sense, the study was conducted to evaluate the mineral composition of the cladodes of Opuntia atropes Rose (genotype F-08) at different stages of phenological development.
Cladodes were collected from five plants in three stages: young (cladodes located at the distal or lateral ends of the plant, in expansion), intermediate (cladodes located in the middle part of the plant, with a rigid structure), and mature (cladodes located just above the base, fully expanded). There was no difference (P>0.05) in the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur and zinc between cladodium development stages.
Calcium was the most abundant macromineral and its contents increased as a function of cladode maturation from 67.47 (young) to 81.80 g kg‑1 DM (mature). Copper and iron concentrations were higher in young cladodes (4.65 and 119.10 mg kg‑1 DM, respectively). Lower levels of boron (39.28 mg kg‑1 DM) and manganese (41.64 mg kg‑1 DM) were observed in the mature stage.
The cladodes of O. atropes have significant amounts of minerals and can potentially meet the nutritional requirements of domestic ruminants.
Mineral concentration tends to be higher in young cladodes.
Publication
Authors
D.D. Silva, A.P. Andrade, D.S. Silva, F.A.L. Alves, R.L. Valença, F.S. Araújo, M.F. Vieira, D.C. Santos
Keywords
animal feed, F-08, forage quality, phenophase, semi-arid
Groups involved
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