Articles
Pitaya cultivation in greenhouse in hydroponic system (NGS) in the south of Spain
Article number
1452_25
Pages
195 – 198
Language
English
Abstract
The introduction of tropical and exotic fruit trees in southeastern Spanish greenhouses can improve their profitability and contribute to diversify our vegetable production.
In this work, the productivity and quality of a crop of pitaya ‘Royal Red’ grown in a hydroponic system inside a plastic greenhouse was evaluated.
Pitaya cuttings were trained as a single guyot and spaced 0.5 m apart in the row and 2 m between rows, with a density of 10,000 plants ha‑1. From this height the cladodes hung forming a production wall carrying a total of 16.6 flowers m‑2. The most intense waves took place in June, July and September, with 5.8, 3.1 and 3.0 flowers m‑2, respectively.
Pollination was done manually using their own pollen.
Harvesting was distributed between July and November and total yields of around 40 t ha‑1 were achieved.
Yields were mainly concentrated in July (6.9), August (17.3) and October (10.6 t ha‑1). In September and November, production was lower (1.4 and 2.9 t ha‑1, respectively), coinciding with less intense flowering.
Average fruit weight ranged from 330 (August) to 483 g (July). In July, 97% of the fruit harvested weighed more than 300 g, descending to 70% in Augusta and climbing back to >90% in October and November.
There does not seem to be a direct relationship between the amount of fruit harvested and the size of the fruit, and other factors such as climate conditions during pollination should be considered.
The sweetest fruits were obtained in July and at the end of August.
The NGS hydroponic pitaya production system in greenhouses of southeastern Spain is viable and can bring forward full production, obtaining high yields and quality fruit adapted to market requirements.
In this work, the productivity and quality of a crop of pitaya ‘Royal Red’ grown in a hydroponic system inside a plastic greenhouse was evaluated.
Pitaya cuttings were trained as a single guyot and spaced 0.5 m apart in the row and 2 m between rows, with a density of 10,000 plants ha‑1. From this height the cladodes hung forming a production wall carrying a total of 16.6 flowers m‑2. The most intense waves took place in June, July and September, with 5.8, 3.1 and 3.0 flowers m‑2, respectively.
Pollination was done manually using their own pollen.
Harvesting was distributed between July and November and total yields of around 40 t ha‑1 were achieved.
Yields were mainly concentrated in July (6.9), August (17.3) and October (10.6 t ha‑1). In September and November, production was lower (1.4 and 2.9 t ha‑1, respectively), coinciding with less intense flowering.
Average fruit weight ranged from 330 (August) to 483 g (July). In July, 97% of the fruit harvested weighed more than 300 g, descending to 70% in Augusta and climbing back to >90% in October and November.
There does not seem to be a direct relationship between the amount of fruit harvested and the size of the fruit, and other factors such as climate conditions during pollination should be considered.
The sweetest fruits were obtained in July and at the end of August.
The NGS hydroponic pitaya production system in greenhouses of southeastern Spain is viable and can bring forward full production, obtaining high yields and quality fruit adapted to market requirements.
Authors
J.J. Hueso, A. Oliva
Keywords
Hylocereus spp., dragon fruit, protected cultivation, Cactaceae, pitahaya
Groups involved
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